The NSW Government social media sleuths had a win last week in a virtual social media ‘war of the canola crops'.

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty sent out a media release reporting that Leader of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders had accidentally gone ‘international,’ and had posted images of Canadian harvesting operations instead of Australian scenes.

The gaffe appeared in a post where the Shadow Minister for Regional NSW and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Trade and Natural Resources attempted to accuse the Premier of believing Paramatta is a part of regional New South Wales. 

The post was attempting to showcase regional New South Wales but instead showcased completely different states and countries. 

An image of a tractor harvesting Canola has been identified as originating from Alberta, Canada.  While an image of a red dirt road has been identified as being from the outback of Queensland. 

An image of vineyard operations appears to originate from a photographer with no link to New South Wales. 

Mr Saunders’ office refused to confess to the alleged social media misrepresentations and instead, came out swinging, listing not one but ten examples of when NSW Government Ministers had made poor ‘stock’ selections for their imagery.

This list went like this:

“As mentioned, please see attached examples of Labor MPs (including Tara Moriarty and the Premier) using stock images from other countries on their social media while promoting regional NSW.

Included:

• Chris Minns posting about a plan for flood damage to western Sydney roads – using a stock photo from America.
• Chris Minns posting about the social media summit held in NSW and SA – using a stock photo from Brazil.
• Chris Minns posting about his plan to build 400 social houses in NSW – using a stock photo from Thailand.
• Tara Moriarty posting about regional road repairs in NSW – with a stock photo from Thailand.
• Tara Moriarty posting about building things here in NSW – with a stock photo from Serbia.
• Steve Kamper posting about NSW Small Business month – using a stock photo from Serbia.

In a game of ‘tit for tat’ where both parties exclaimed the injustice at the waste of resources which went into the dobbing expedition, it was mud slinging at 20-paces.

Mr Saunders said the state agriculture Minister was not acting in the best interests of NSW and did not have a sense of humour.

"The fact the Minister for Regional NSW is spending all her time and resources focusing on a social media video confirms what we always feared,” Mr Saunders said.

“Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money to identify what regional NSW looks like in a light-hearted social media video, the Minister should put more energy into helping the Premier find it on a map.” 

While the ag minister dubbed the social media slip as ‘bizarre.’   “This is frankly bizarre behaviour from the Leader of the National Party – it’s not like there is a shortage of incredible places in regional New South Wales worth showcasing. 

“Rather than spending his time criticising the itinerary of Their Majestie’s visit – which the Shadow Minister is well aware was cut short for extremely valid reasons – he should join the NSW Government in celebrating our regional and farming communities. 

“There was a time when the NSW Nationals were the champions of regional New South Wales, unfortunately now their main focus seems to be on petty criticism and political point scoring,” Ms Moriarty said.