Hundreds of Illawarra investors had money invested in the Albury-based fund manager, including its $123 million flagship scheme, Astarra Strategic Fund.

The investors were clients of Wollongong financial planning firm Tarrants and financial advisor Colin Warne. Another Wollongong business, Dominion, acquired Mr Warne's Trio clients when it bought Warne Financial Services in 2008.

Cunningham MP Sharon Bird said yesterday she had been contacted by two investors about the Trio collapse.

"They wanted me to make representations to the Minister for Financial Services. That is what I have done, to seek advice on what options there are to help people facing losses."

Ms Bird said the difficulty was that the Federal Government was in "caretaker mode" during the election campaign.

"It is also complex because we need to wait for it to go through the courts," she said.

Gilmore MP Joanna Gash said she had twice contacted the minister during April, on behalf of residents in her electorate. She said she had not yet received a response.

"I am very concerned a lot of people certainly will lose their money in this," Mrs Gash said.

In a statement released late yesterday, Mr Bowen acknowledged he had been contacted by a number of MPs from the Illawarra and South Coast.

"I understand the concerns of those who have been caught up in the uncertainty concerning Trio," he said.

Retirees who were members of registered superannuation funds caught up in the Trio collapse had continued to receive pension payments, he said.

Registered superannuation fund members were advised last month that the acting trustee would apply for financial assistance by the end of July.

However, the Mercury understands the financial assistance on offer will not extend to investors in managed investment schemes or those with self-managed superannuation.

Mr Bowen said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Australian Prudential Regulation Authority were continuing their investigations into Trio.