Kiwi gang boss gets deported from Aust
The New Zealand Rebels motorcycle outlaw gang boss Aaron ’’AJ’’ Graham is the latest bikie to be kicked out of Australia after a new law was pushed through targeting organised crime figures.
The notorious bikie was deported to his native New Zealand on Tuesday, despite last month winning a High Court appeal against his second visa cancellation.
Graham, 50, whose visa was revoked on character grounds, was packed to leave Sydney’s Villawood detention centre when Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton cancelled his visa for a third time.
It came hours after a High Court ruling that Graham’s earlier visa cancellation decision was invalid.
Graham, the founding member of the Rebels bikie gang in Tasmania, was reportedly put on a flight in Sydney on Tuesday and flown to Auckland after being detained in the detention centre for two years.
A New Zealand Police spokeswoman said they were aware of Graham and his background but would not comment on arrangements for specific individuals.
The Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act enables information to be required from eligible individuals as well as their supervision.
The spokeswoman said in general, the police worked with relevant agencies to manage the arrival of those returning under the Australian legislation.
Even if they did not qualify under the act, the police would put in place any ‘‘necessary preventative measures within the current law’’.
Earlier this year, Graham and fellow Rebels bikie Mehaka Lee Te Puia – who had his visa revoked due to his association with the outlaw motorcycle gang – successfully challenged the visa cancellations after claiming they were unconstitutional.
Dutton, however, had an amendment passed to the Migration Act to stop Graham and Lee Te Puia and up to 20 other people, whose visas have been cancelled, from reentering Australia.
Governor-general Peter Cosgrove signed off on an amendment, just hours before the High Court ruling, to ensure any other decisions on visa cancellations by Dutton under the Migration Act would stand.
Among the 20 people banned from returning to Australia was Rebels bikie boss and Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin’s father Shane, who was deported to New Zealand weeks before his son played a starring role in the AFL grand final.
Dutton has previously said the visas were cancelled for the safety of the Australian community.
‘‘This amendment ensures that people who are outlaw motorcycle gang members, organised criminals and threats to national security cannot stay in Australia,’’ he said.
Dutton said among the 20 people whose visas has been cancelled were ‘‘some pretty nasty characters’’.
‘‘If they’re going to harm Australians I don’t understand how they can expect to stay here on their visas.’’