Gino Mandarino, who was Ms Watson’s chief of staff, began working for the new MP on November 21.

Mr Scully said Mr Mandarino was offered the job because of his political experience and refuted suggestion he had snatched the staffer off a Labor Party colleague. 

“He’s taken an opportunity to come across and help in a new office,” Mr Scully said. 

“He’s an incredibly experienced electorate officer and in a new office it was important that I had a mix of experience and of new staff.

“Gino and I have known each other for more than 20 years, so we’ve worked closely together on a number of things and he was an incredible help during the [Wollongong byelection] campaign.”

Mr Mandarino is the partner of Cunningham MP Sharon Bird. Mr Scully’s partner, Alison Byrnes-Scully, is Ms Bird’s chief of staff.

The new Wollongong MP will have two staff, with both of the positions filled.

Mr Scully’s budget also allows for a relief staff member.

“It’s a case of making sure we’ve got the right people in the right office to hit the ground running,” he said.

Mr Scully, who is yet to deliver his inaugural speech in the NSW Parliament, recently moved into the Wollongong electorate office vacated by former Labor MP Noreen Hay.  

Ms Hay’s retirement from state politics earlier this year prompted last month’s Wollongong byelection.

Mr Scully beat Independent challenger, and Wollongong lord mayor, Gordon Bradbery at the November 12 poll. The Labor candidate was declared elected on November 17.

The declaration of the poll allows MPs to put the wheels in motion to arrange staff and get an office up and running.

Mr Scully said his electorate office, located at the lower end of the Crown Street Mall, was “open for business”.

“We’re taking constituent cases and helping people out as much as we can,” he said. 

Ms Watson said Mr Mandarino’s move was an internal party matter and she had “nothing to say”. 

The Mercury contacted Mr Mandarino for comment.