Mr Toleman is one of more than 25 staff members who were employed by Weir in Warrnambool until mid-afternoon on Monday.

The 55-year-old said he was now looking for a job.

"It's disappointing. Ninety-nine per cent of the staff had no idea what's going on," he said. "We turned up for work on Wednesday morning at the stables and at 6am two stewards walked in and with them six blokes with guns on their hips ... I realised they weren't stewards, they were police detectives.

"The staff were just totally shocked. I've been there since last November. I was driving trucks and doing maintenance."

Mr Toleman said he had worked shifts from 4am and 5am until midday.

"It's just gut-wrenching for all the staff," he said. "We're all in total shock. There was a barbecue on Saturday. Many of the staff broke down because they've all got car bills, phone bills. Who's going to pay them now? 

“Racing Victoria have put up a help line for staff but that will not pay our bills. The long-term prospects for the staff getting jobs aren't real good."

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