More than 100,000 seniors had applied for the Regional Seniors Travel Card, which gives them $250 to spend on public transport expenses.

Labor has criticised the rollout being limited to "rural and regional" seniors because it means those in the Wollongong local government area are ineligible, while those in Shellharbour can get the card.

But Mr Ward said Labor itself did not consider Wollongong regional, pointing to former Labor leader Luke Foley's 2018 decision to exclude the city from the regional spending spree of the Snowy Hydro sale.

"We've made it clear, and the Labor party has made clear, that Wollongong is not regional NSW," Mr Ward said.

"The [former] leader of the opposition made it clear after the shadow minister for the Illawarra had been beating his chest, saying Wollongong should have been part of 'regional' areas. Well he was snubbed by the opposition leader."

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Instead, places like Wollongong should be considered "peri-urban", Mr Ward said.

In terms of the seniors card, Mr Ward said South Coast residents needed public transport help more than those in Wollongong.

"Wollongong's got a frequent train service," he said.

"Look at people further south, you don't have as many train services. When you reach Bomaderry you don't have a rail service. This card is about subsidising transport for older people in areas where it's hard to get around because of the costs of public transport or the cost of transport in general."