The deported bikie gang member and father of footy star Dustin Martin believes a Labor government will give him a better opportunity to return to Australia.
Shane Martin, 52, was born in New Zealand but has considered Australia home since moving to New South Wales at age 20.
Martin joined the notorious Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, eventually rising to the role of club president.
He had three children in Australia including Richmond Tigers AFL superstar Dustin.
In 2016, Martin senior was kicked out of Australia by then-immigration minister Peter Dutton and was forced to build a new life for himself in Auckland.
A 14-year association with the Rebels, as well as a criminal record that included aggravated assault charges and drug trafficking, led to his banishment.
Shane Martin (left), 52, was born in New Zealand but has considered Australia home since moving to New South Wales aged 20. He is pictured with his footy star son Dustin (right)
‘I’m waiting on advice from my legal team, but it is based on a change of Government,’ Martin (pictured with sons) says about returning to Australia
Shane Martin, 52, was born in Huntly, south of Auckland, has identified with Australia as home since moving to New South Wales at 20
Now living in Mount Maunganui, Martin continues to pursue legal challenges in a bid to return to Australia.
‘I’m waiting on advice from my legal team, but it is based on a change of Government,’ Martin told the New Zealand Herald.
Australia is due to go to the polls mid-May for the federal election – which is expected to be a close race between current Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Bill Shorten.
‘I’m still going for it, I’m not going to fold up. They’ve picked the wrong bloke to be honest, I’m going to fight it all the way,’ Martin said.
John Kotsifas, Martin’s lawyer, said they will reassess legal options permitting the Liberal government ‘disappear in May’.
Martin said he misses his children and the chance to watch his son play AFL.
Residing in Mount Maunganui, Martin (right) continues to battle legal challenges in a bid to return to Australia, a country he considers home
In 2016, Martin was exiled from Australia by then immigration minister Peter Dutton and was forced to build a new life for himself in Auckland, New Zealand
‘My wife loves it, and my kids love coming here. But I still want the freedom to come back to Australia,’ he said.
In a new book, Rebel In Exile, written with Kiwi gang expert Jarrod Gilbert, Martin speaks about his experiences in one of the Australia’s most notorious gangs.
Martin said he was forced to work his way up the ranks to eventually become a top-ranking official.
In an extract from the book, Martin recalls the moment the President made him a member of the Rebels.
The president played a trick on Martin by telling him ‘you know what you did’ and claiming he would be a nom for three more months.
Moments later, the president erupted in laughter and gave him a bear hug to welcome him into the Rebels.
‘For the first time I roared out of the clubhouse wearing a patch. I was buzzing. I didn’t feel tougher or anything, just proud to be a member. Proud to be part of something,’ Martin wrote in his book.
Martin said joining the Rebels signified that other men had his back, a newfound trust with thousands of ‘brothers’ across Australia.
As with any bikie gang, Martin (pictured with wife) was forced to work his way up the ranks to eventually become a top-ranking video
‘I could trust them, and they could trust me. I could rely on them and they could rely on me. For the first time in my life I knew what belonging was like. Joining the club changed me. And it changed me for the better,’ he said.
The former bikie also addresses ‘misconceptions’ about the culture of gangs, notably their attachment to criminality.
Martin said joining the Rebels signified that other men had his back, a newfound trust with thousands of ‘brothers’ across Australia
Martin recalls a meeting at the club’s ‘Big House’ which was raided by police.
‘It was like a movie. These Raptor cops came crashing in like they were busting up a terrorist plot. There were loads of them. They even had a helicopter,’ Martin wrote.
His son Dustin has won the Brownlow Medal as the AFL’s best player and a premiership in his impressive career with Richmond.
In a Herald Sun interview in January, the-27-year-old admitted he’d felt ‘weird’ throughout 2018 but had learnt a lot as his father tried to return to Australia.
Martin’s son, Richmond footy star Dustin has taken to the pitch again for the 2019 AFL season
‘2018 was a weird feeling (for me). Early in the year. I was like, ”I don’t know what is next”,’ Martin said.
He said he lacked motivation and struggled throughout the year.
‘You think you can win all these things and it is going to make you happy, but the reality is the things that make you happy are your friends and your family and all those kind of things,’ Martin said.
Dustin paid tribute to his father both during his Brownlow acceptance speech and after winning the grand final, calling him his ‘best mate’.
Martin had three Australian-born children including AFL premiership-winning son Dustin (pictured) who has been an avid fighter in bringing his father back to Australia