Providing effective leadership during a crisis is extraordinarily tough.

However, when that crisis is a global health pandemic it must be impossible.

From a political point of view, we often see our leaders and their respective parties like football teams.

We barrack and debate and argue and cheer depending on our preferred colour. Parochially and passionately we blindly follow, standing up for leaders like champion players which is easily done when they are winning, but not so simple when they are found at the bottom of the ladder and bearing the brunt of jokes.

Rarely are we prepared to secede ground; scrapping with contrary views on Facebook and responding with predatory reflexes before balanced thought patterns have a chance to kick-in.

The predictable result - the issue of a challenge to family, friends, and foes alike to engage in keyboard jousting.

This year has seen significant opportunity to critique political leaders across Australia and the world. Not a day has passed where Scott Morrison, Donald Trump and/or Boris Johnson have not been on our TV screens during the nightly news explaining the state of play. It happens when we are without football.

And via social media, the leadership of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been captivating to watch, employing simple techniques to communicate her government's message. Ms Ardern has developed a significant personal brand as a result.

One thing that we should remember is that no matter your character assessment, political leaders have made it to the top of their game because they possess key attributes, acumen, and skills.

Just as not all players win a Brownlow Medal, not everyone makes it to the Lodge, the White House or the Office of Premier of their state without significant determination, a relentless focus, some luck, and a heaped tablespoon of cunning.

Therefore, we can learn from our democratically elected political leaders no matter our leanings. We do not have to agree with their policies nor their views on contentious subjects, but we can learn from the way they prosecute their arguments to engage the majority.

There is a skill inherent in their communication; it may be different to what normally resonates or what we like to hear because of perceived traits, however rest assured to be the leader, they have impressed members of their party and a broad cross section of the community.

Nonetheless, this does not mean we should give our political leaders a free kick. Rather, we should fiercely hold them accountable through constructive disagreement instead of simple criticisms which are often based on appearance and personality rather than substance.

Elected leaders may not always get it right, but they present as a much-needed familiar face in a difficult time.

When the Tasmanian Parliament made the decision to head into recess until August as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was very disappointed because it was impossible to understand the rationale.

And while many employees continued to head to work, encouraged by the government, parliament had a rest.

There is no more important time for democracy to shine than during a crisis. No matter what alternative mechanisms are in place, there is nothing quite like the accountability of Question Time in the Lower House of a Westminster Parliament.

Further, better decisions are made if our leaders disagree and then debate their way to consensus.

When the Premier rescinded that decision and recalled the parliament, I was thankful.

Scott Morrison should be given credit for convening a National Cabinet and Jacinda Arden should be recognised for the intestinal fortitude required to shut her country down. Two different approaches that, if we hesitate from jumping to conclusions, we can learn from.

A Prime Minister of New Zealand has not joined a National Cabinet meeting including the Australian PM, state premiers, and territory chief ministers since World War 2 when Peter Fraser supported John Curtin.

Ms Ardern presides over a national coalition government in a unicameral parliament of 120 House of Representative members responsible for governance of their entire country. Provincial government was eliminated in 1876 and the Legislative Council (Upper House) was formally abolished in 1951. Therefore, there are no pesky States or Territories to deal with once the decisions are made.

On our side of the Tasman, Mr Morrison is charged with navigating a Federation where agreement can be reached by National Cabinet, soon followed by state premiers and territory chief ministers implementing the deal in similar but different ways depending on their individual circumstances, policy settings, and laws.

The decisions that they have both made in their nation's interest are not simple. They impact people significantly, protecting their health while putting jobs and the economy at risk. It is an unenviable set of circumstances.

PM Ardern and PM Morrison have, at best, had their differences which appear to be diluting as they tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps we just need encourage Mr Morrison and Ms Ardern to take on another challenge, another crisis where they can work together: coaching Carlton...