Labor Party memberships have been frozen across Wyndham following a surge in applications.
Star Weekly understands that more than 100 membership applications have been put on hold as ALP headquarters examines the applicants’ authenticity.
An ALP member of Indian heritage, who asked to remain anonymous, said they believed most of the applications on hold related to people with a subcontinent background, and that grouping was being “unfairly targeted”.
The member suggested it could lead to an Indian revolt within the local branches.
“Freezing Indian memberships shows the Labor Party is not valuing enough what the community has offered to the party,” they said.
“As the membership grows, Telmo [Languiller-Tornesi, Tarneit MP] will be the first one to go, replaced by an Indian community member.
“This seat will be something to watch at the next election.”
The ALP member said federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan might also face a preselection challenge from an Indian Labor Party member. They said neither MP showed enough “leadership or unity”, and the Indian community was “definitely entitled” to a seat in Parliament.
Ms Ryan said she expected the party to conduct a thorough investigation if there was any issue with memberships. She said no party member was entitled to a seat in Parliament.
“Labor is proud of the diversity that we have in the parliaments across Australia,” she said. “There is diversity in cultural background, religion and gender. My focus is on serving this community in Federal Parliament,” she said.
Mr Languiller-Tornesi said he had been elected by the people of Tarneit and he would continue to serve them in future.
Neither ALP Victoria nor the Sub-Continent Friends of Labor responded to Star Weekly’s request for comment.
