Inside the tragic life of Shane Martin, Dustin Martin’s father

Shane Martin’s final years were spent trying to get back into Australia after he was deported because of his ties to the Rebels bikie gang.

Shane Martin spent years trying to get back into Australia after he was deported because of his membership of the Rebels motorcycle gang.

Known as “Kiwi” he was sent back to New Zealand in 2016 as part of then Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s bikie crackdown.

The father of Richmond superstar Dustin Martin claimed he was targeted because of his son’s profile.

However, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had said he was “proud” of the decision to deport Shane on Melbourne radio when the case hit the headlines.

Shane had been the president of the Rebels’ Camden chapter in Sydney and was pictured in his colours at a bikie funeral.

The late Shane Martin, father of Dustin Martin, was deported to New Zealand in 2016.

Shane ‘Kiwi’ Martin pictured after Richmond’s 2019 Granf Final victory in 2019. Picture: AAP

He did have criminal convictions for drug possession but a two-month prison sentence had been suspended for 12 months.

Shane had told this newspaper several years ago that his first time behind bars was in immigration detention before he was deported.

He hired top barrister James Forsaith to fight his case, who forced Mr Dutton to concede in the Federal Court in Sydney in 2017 that his deportation was based on a legal error.

However, despite the win, he was still not allowed back into Australia because Mr Dutton threatened to cancel his visa when he arrived.

“I’ve won my case but I still can’t home to Australia to be with my family,” he said.

“Based on what the minister has said publicly I’m still not going to get a fair go.”

New Zealand citizens do not need a visa to apply to enter and stay in Australia, so Shane had never formally applied to become a citizen.

Dustin Martin is mourning the loss of his father, Shane. Picture: Getty Images

Shane Martin pictured after Richmond’s Grand Final win in 2019. He wrote a book about his life, titled A Rebel in Exile. Picture: AAP

Dustin Martin, centre, with his dad Shen and mum Kathy Knight at the AFL draft in 2009.

Shane was close to his son despite separating from Kathy Knight who was based in Victoria when Dustin was a child and moving to Sydney.

Dustin would often make trips to New Zealand to see his father, particularly before he made the decision to stick with Richmond on a $9 million seven-year deal.

Dustin, who is usually reserved in public, would often say “I love you” to his father at the end of his post match television interviews on the ground.

The Brownlow medallist idolised his father, who gave him tough love when he quit school in year 9.

He moved to Sydney to work at Shane Martin’s trucking company, driving forklifts.

But Dustin didn’t get an easy ride and decided that school, and ultimately football, was a better fit.

Dustin and his father both had the same maori neck tattoos.

Dustin got his on a trip to see his father when he was 18 – his mother was “depressed for a week” when she first saw them, but ultimately said they suited him.

Shane had said he had left the bikie gang before he was deported.

Shane Martin had criminal convictions for drug possession but a two-month prison sentence had been suspended for 12 months. Picture: AAP

He had met his second wife Adriana at a local gym and had started a new life.

Shane was stepfather to Adriana’s two girls, who often visited him in New Zealand on school holidays after he was deported.

Adriana, a teacher, was devoted to him, travelling to New Zealand most weekends and then moving there for long periods because he was unable to travel.

Shane continued to run his trucking business from New Zealand. He would be on the phone to his staff regularly and was proud of his vehicles, which he demanded be washed regularly.

Shane’s cleaning standards were higher than most.

He invited the Herald Sun to join him watching the 2017 Brownlow Medal in Auckland, which Dustin won in a stellar year that also included a Norm Smith medal and Richmond’s first premiership in 37 years.

Shane had told this newspaper he joined the bikie gang because it was a brotherhood and gave him order, which he had struggled to find with his own family.

Dustin Martin pictured at a Tigers training session. Picture: Michael Klein

He denied that he was a criminal, despite police sources raising concerns about his activities.

The family claimed they had been victimised by the Australian government, with a 2017 Christmas trip to Bali cancelled because of alleged political interference.

Dustin told the Sunday Herald Sun at the time: “We had Christmas in Bali planned for a while — way before the minister’s decision was overturned — and it was gonna be really special for my family to be all together,” he said.

“But dad got to Bali and was told the Australian authorities now requested he’s not allowed in.”

“I was just shattered and really confused. Why would they stop him from going to Bali now? We were there a year ago and nothing changed apart from dad winning his case.

“I’m a really proud Australian and I love this country but this just isn’t a fair go.”

The Immigration Department at the time denied the claims.

Shane wrote a book about his life, titled A Rebel in Exile.

He never got back to Australia.