For those who missed it, last week, Mr Hartsuyker interviewed Malcolm Turnbull for two minutes and 45 seconds in an attempt to take the region’s questions straight to the Prime Minister.

The video, which it’s fair to say felt uncomfortable and staged, was then posted on Mr Hartsuyker’s Facebook page – and the response was merciless.

Last count there were near 100 comments, not to mention the 52 shares with their corresponding list of overwhelmingly negative posts.

The video’s cute kid and predictable swing at Labor did nothing to distract the audience's focus – Hartsuyker was the main game.

Comments included: “Wow. I can't say my expectations were high, but this is unbelievably laughable, patronising, the most lame PR exercise I have ever seen. Are you serious? I am actually embarrassed for you both. Not to mention terrified for all our future. I'll be sure to send my two children in with a real question soon. Like, what are you doing about this CLIMATE EMERGENCY?”

And: “Yeah Luke, sorry buddy but this video just confirms my long time belief that you're a little short of the grey matter up top. Wake up Cowper this is your elected Federal Member.”

However, despite the beating, Mr Hartsuyker told the Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun that he thought it was a good idea (though he did not elaborate on the awkwardness).

“We did a short video to connect with the electorate, but people have to be realistic, the PM’s time is to the minute, it would be unreasonable to think he could answer all 400 questions,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“We are sorting the responses and we have got back to a number of people, and we have sent some to other ministers for comments.

“As a local member and a minister, I get the full width and breadth of questions every day. Some people think the members are out of touch, but nothing could be further from the truth.

“We attend and hear from a whole range of different people in different forums – school presentation nights, public occasions, emails and through social media … so I wasn’t surprised by the amount of questions or what they asked. But it was interesting to see the range of comments following the interview. There were some who had unrealistic expectations of what the PM could address.”

A noble PR exercise, but taking the message to the “common man” was fraught with danger – and this was not lost on Cowper candidate hopeful, Independent Rob Oakeshott.

Mr Oakeshott, perhaps understanding better than anyone how impossible the task was – take 400 questions from the local area and have the PM answer them – saw fit to use the Member for Cowper’s Facebook page as a way to engage directly with the region too.

However, unsurprisingly, Mr Oakeshott got blocked “for answering the 288 unanswered questions on the Federal MP for Cowper’s website”.

“I thought there were some very good and very genuine questions that remain unanswered,” Mr Oakeshott said.

“In between putting children to bed, I managed to answer questions on Indigenous recognition and treaty, the deplorable state of the NBN and mobile phone service within the Mid North Coast, the decline of bulk-billing access within our region, and the importance of renewable energy within our region.

“I am genuinely surprised that the Nationals and/or Luke Hartsuyker have chosen to shut down debate, rather than engage in it.

“Why are they running from this community?”

The answer: Mr Hartsuyker said you are a “failed Cowper candidate” and as such have “no more than any other constituent” the right to post on his Facebook page.

And in addition, “(Mr Oakeshott) has his own social media sites, we live in a democracy and he is entitled to write what he likes on his Facebook, but my Facebook is a vehicle to communicate. It is not intended to be a vehicle for another candidate to campaign from.

“Mr Oakeshott has a government superannuation pension, I am sure he has the resources to Facebook as much as he likes.”