Ms Watson, the Labor Member for Shellharbour, used a notice of motion in State Parliament on Tuesday that called on Mr Ward – the parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra and Liberal Kiama MP – to “finally show his hand” on the merger plans for the region.

The notion of motion condemned the forced amalgamation of Shellharbour and Wollongong city councils and the merger of Kiama and Shoalhaven councils.

It also noted the “widespread community opposition” to the proposals and called on the Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole, to withdraw the Illawarra merger plans immediately.

Mr Ward interjected on numerous occasions while Ms Watson spoke, reminding the Labor MP about her absence from recent merger inquiries and a public rally at Shellharbour. 

The Liberal MP’s rowdiness prompted the Speaker, South Coast MP Shelley Hancock, to intervene.

“Member for Kiama, you’ll get your opportunity, I’m sure,” Mrs Hancock said.

The final point of the motion urged Mr Ward to “support and vote for this … in the Legislative Assembly”.

“You never open your mouth to have a go at anyone else do you … you’re just a grub,” Mr Ward was heard saying in reply.

The comment got Mrs Hancock riled.

“I ask you to resist from using terms like that, Member for Kiama,” she said.

The exchange comes a week after Ms Watson took aim at Mr Ward for refusing to support a Labor Party motion to prioritise a merger debate in Parliament last Tuesday. 

The motion opposed the government’s plan, condemned boundary changes and called for release of the full KPMG report. 

Mr Ward’s failure to cross the floor last week also angered Neil Reilly – a one-time Labor candidate for Gilmore, now independent Kiama councillor – who labelled the Liberal Kiama MP a “c--t” and a “f---ing arrogant turd” in a text message tirade.

“I’m not going to be lectured by the Member for Shellharbour, who couldn’t even be bothered to attend the public inquiry, which is gathering evidence, which will lead to a final decision in relation to this matter,” Mr Ward told the Mercury last week. 

“Everyone knows this decision is not being decided in Parliament, there is evidence being collected by the delegate for a report to the boundaries commission and a recommendation to the minister.”

Within 15 minutes of the notice of motion being tabled, Ms Watson’s office issued a media release reinforcing the messages contained in the parliamentary statement of intention.

Ms Watson said this week’s motion gave Mr Ward a “second chance to show the government that he stands with the region he represents”.

“Mr Ward can no longer, as the parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast, seek to straddle a barbed wire fence on this issue by saying one thing in Terralong Street while doing another in Macquarie Street,” she said.

“He should realise that straddling barbed wire fences can be very uncomfortable and leaves a nasty mess”.