Discussions about the Steel Industry Protection Bill – which was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on February 16 – continued this week, with the region’s Labor MPs Paul Scully (Wollongong) and Anna Watson (Shellharbour) approaching the despatch box to speak.

Sitting opposite Ms Watson as she spoke in favour of the bill was Liberal MP – and parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra – Gareth Ward, who came under attack for opposing the proposal.

Ms Watson told the chamber Mr Ward supported mandating the use of ethanol, but “won’t lift a finger” to mandate the use of Port Kembla steel in publicly-funded infrastructure.

“Just when you think the member can stoop no lower in duplicity and wallow in hypocrisy, we can always yet be astonishingly surprised,” she said.  

The comments prompted a point of order from Mr Ward about the Labor MP’s use of “parliamentary language”.

Continuing her speech, Ms Watson stated if the bill was defeated, when its ultimately put to a vote, it would “be on the heads of the Coalition”.

“The Member for Kiama, in particular, will wear its defeat and his part in it like a crown of thorns to the next election,” she said.

Mr Scully also took aim at Mr Ward during what was only his second speech in the Parliament (after his inaugural address on Tuesday). 

“The Member for Kiama has slammed this bill, indicating he’ll vote for its defeat because mandating steel use is ‘protectionist’,” Mr Scully said.  

“However, it’s not the view he took when it came to ethanol.”

“I bet London to a brick if the BlueScope steelworks was located in Bomaderry instead of Port Kembla, the Member for Kiama would be championing, supporting and ultimately voting for this bill.”

Mr Ward has previously said he won’t support the steel bill, citing mandatory minimums on the use of steel would damage the industry.

The debate continues next month.