Greens senator Lidia Thorpe admits to romance with Rebels bikie boss who is Dustin Martin’s uncle

Controversial Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has admitted to a ‘brief’ romance with a Rebels bikie boss who is the uncle of AFL star Dustin Martin.

Ms Thorpe said she met Dean Martin, the ex-president of the Rebels Victoria chapter, through the ‘Blak activism’ group and they dated in early 2021.

‘We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples,’ she told the ABC.

The revelation came to light after reports members of Ms Thorpe’s staff expressed concern about the relationship. 

That concern related to the fact Ms Thorpe was sitting on a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee which heard confidential briefings about outlaw motorcycle gangs. 

Martin stepped down as president of the Rebels Victoria chapter in 2018 after his brother, Dustin Martin’s father Shane, was deported to New Zealand over his bikie links. He has no criminal convictions.

Ms Thorpe said she met Dean Martin, the ex-president of the Rebels Victoria chapter, through the ‘Blak activism’ group and they dated in early 2021

Martin stepped down as president of the Rebels Victoria chapter in 2018 after his brother, Dustin Martin’s father Shane, was deported to New Zealand over his bikie links

The ABC reported that Ms Thorpe failed to tell her party leader, Adam Bandt, about the relationship despite staff urging her to do so and he only became aware once questions were asked about it.