AFL star Dustin Martin's Kiwi father wins deportation casestuff.co.nz
14 Feb 2018The Kiwi father of Aussie Rules star Dustin Martin is not holding out hope for a return to Australia, despite successfully winning his court case against Australia's immigration minister, Peter Dutton.
Shane Martin, who has lived across the ditch since he was 21, was deported back to New Zealand under Australia's Immigration Act after being deemed not to be of good character, and because of his links to the Rebels motorcycle gang.
The deportation prevented him from watching on live at the stadium as his son won the 2017 AFL grand final with the Richmond Tigers. It was the club's first title since 1980.
On Tuesday, Dutton's layers conceded that they had made an error in the case in Federal Court, which allowed Martin to overturn his ban. However, it remains unlikely that he will be able to return to Australia to see his family.
"I've won my case but I still can't come home to Australia to be with my family," Martin told the Herald Sun.
"Based on what the minister has said publicly I'm still not going to get a fair go."
In December, Dutton stated that Martin's application to return to Australia would be rejected.
"Nobody is bleating about the other 150 or so bikies that we've cancelled the visas of," Dutton said.
"People have got an interest in Mr Martin because he's got an incredibly talented son. I don't believe he is of good character."
Dutton said he based the decision to deport Martin on information that is not publicly available.
"I have information that is provided by the intelligence agencies and by law I am prohibited from giving you the detail," he said.
"I've made a decision which I am not going to change. I made a decision based on all the facts and I believe it is the right decision."
Martin has a criminal record. In Australia, he received a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, in 2004 for aiding and abetting in ecstasy trafficking and was fined for drug possession. In New Zealand, offences have included unlawful assault, burglary, armed with intent and drug offences - a record dating back to 1990.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/101423414/afl-star-dustin-martins-kiwi-father-wins-deportation-case