Ellen Whinnett – East Timorese refugees say they have been threatened with visa cancellations if they do not support the Labor Party.

Several sources have told the Herald Sun that many members of the East Timorese community living in Richmond have been bullied by ALP officials, who ordered them to sign up as members or otherwise make cash donations.

The sources – who were too afraid to be publicly identified for fear of retribution – said threats were made that the Government would begin cancelling visas if the ALP officials' demands were not met.

They claimed the officials were supporters of local Labor MP Richard Wynne, who holds the seat of Richmond. Mr Wynne strongly denied the claims, saying there were only 11 members in the East Timor branch of the ALP in Richmond, and the numbers had been unchanged for years.

"That is absolutely not the case. I work extremely closely with the East Timorese community and their attention has been very much on what's happening in East Timor," Mr Wynne said.

"The number of East Timorese people in the branch is 11 and it's been that way for five years with no change." He said he believed the complaints had been made to the Herald Sun for political purposes.

Hundreds of East Timorese people had arrived in Australia since the 1990s on tourist visas but were allowed to stay permanently after widespread violence broke out in 1999 when the country voted for independence from Indonesia. Many of them settled in Richmond, in the high-rise public housing estates.

One former refugee has written to Premier Steve Bracks, alleging people had been ripped off by party officials who took money from them, then said their membership had been rejected and refused to refund the money.

The refugee has also detailed allegations that local East Timorese had been ordered to support Mr Wynne at the election in 12 days.

"Premier, the East Timorese people are very unhappy about what is going on but they are scared to speak up," the refugee claimed in the letter to Mr Bracks.

"Because the people in the Labor Party, including (an official) and his group always told them that if they don't vote for Labor Party or help Labor Party or give money to Labor Party, their family can't come to Australia and they will not get help from the Australian Government."

Yarra City councillor Stephen Jolly, who is standing against Mr Wynne as an endorsed Socialist Party candidate, said he was well aware of the allegations.

"This allegedly unethical behaviour by the Labor Party is disgusting, threatening some of the most vulnerable people in the community," Mr Jolly said.

"These people have come from a war-torn island, after 25 years' occupation. They come here for freedom and instead they get intimidated."