'Apex associate' deported from Vic to NZ

A youth with reported links to Melbourne's Apex gang has been deported to New Zealand.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has confirmed a New Zealand national convicted of serious criminal offences had his visa cancelled and was recently deported.

"As criminal investigations are ongoing, we will not comment further on the specifics of this or other cases being considered for visa cancellation by the department," a spokesman said.

"The department is working co-operatively with Victorian Police to identify and, where appropriate, cancel visas for non-citizens engaging in gang violence or other criminal activity."

The Herald Sun has reported the deportee was Henry Robati, 19, who was deported on April 11 and had links with the Apex gang, which is believed to be behind a spate of car thefts and home invasions as well as the Moomba riots.

Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton on Friday poured cold water on a Australian Border Force proposal that the character-test laws used to deport outlaw bikies could be used against members of Apex and other youth gangs.

"It's mostly Australian-born people (in the street gangs) so in terms of being able to deport them, that's not an option," Mr Ashton told 3AW on Friday.

"Plus the offending we're dealing with has to carry a sort of penalty that would, under the Migration Act, qualify them to be a candidate (for deportation)."