Wollongon g firefighters yesterday refused to take a $1.3 million fire truck to a press conference hosted by Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell, claiming they were being used as political pawns.

The press conference at Balgownie Fire Station was supposed to be the "official handover" of the aerial ladder platform truck from the State Government to NSW Fire Brigades.

The new pride of the fire brigade fleet, with its 37m extending ladder and capacity to pour out 3800 litres of water per minute, has been housed at Wollongong Fire Station for the past three months, where it can respond to emergencies throughout the region.

But Mr Campbell's decision to host the handover at Balgownie, in his Keira electorate, instead of Wollongong Fire Station, in state MP Noreen Hay's electorate, angered firefighters.

Ms Hay's absence at the handover also led firefighters to deduce that Mr Campbell did not want to be seen with her.

"We think the Government is trying to hide Noreen Hay and use firies as patsies in doing this," NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union state secretary Simon Flynn said.

"Because of all the negative exposure of the Wollongong corruption scandal, we think it is either this, or it is David Campbell trying to claim that he has managed to secure a brand-new million-dollar fire engine for his electorate when it's actually in Noreen Hay's electorate."

The boycott also fired Deputy Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner into action.

"David Campbell has come to the same conclusion everyone except Morris Iemma has, that Noreen Hay is political poison and he doesn't want to be associated with her," Mrs Skinner said.

But Mr Campbell denied he was political point-scoring, and said the official handover of the truck coincided with another announcement at Balgownie Fire Station, so it was decided to hold both press conferences at the same time and place.

He also said Ms Hay was invited to the conference but was unable to attend because of parliamentary commitments in Sydney.

Ms Hay said she took leave from Parliament on Wednesday to attend the Ambulance Service of NSW's Medal Ceremony in Wollongong so, she was unable to make yesterday's conference.

The debacle overshadowed the announcement of Superintendent Greg O'Connor's appointment as Illawarra Zone Commander.