A group of veterans of the war in Afghanistan have vowed to step up their campaign to get Peter Dutton to intervene and grant humanitarian visas to Afghan translators who helped Australian soldiers.

The Home Affairs Minister is under political fire for overriding his own department to grant visas to at least two au pairs who had broken their visa conditions.

"If you can see an injustice or something that's wrong, then you need to make sure you stand up for your mates," retired Army Captain, Jason Scanes, told 7.30.

He is fighting for a visa for a translator he worked with, who we will call "Hassan", who has been involved in a five-year battle to have the Federal Government reconsider his rejected visa.

He fears retribution by the Taliban while he remains in Afghanistan, and says he has been attacked by the rebel group, leaving him with broken bones and unable to work.

Nine recommendations and references — but no visa

Afghan interpreter 'Hassan' with coalition troops in Afghanistan. ( Supplied )

Hassan was given the highest level of security clearance permitted for translators when he worked with the Australians, allowing him to live on base alongside soldiers.

Hassan's service made him eligible to apply for a protection visa under the Federal Government's program for translators who are deemed to be at risk because of their work for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) — more than 900 have been granted to Iraqi and Afghans since the programs inception in 2013.

Hassan received recommendations and references from nine Australian and US military officers.

One high ranking Army officer who knows Hassan from his time serving in the same operating base has already assisted two other interpreters to be successfully resettled.

"There was no way I wasn't going to give these guys the best chance of getting to Australia that I could possibly give them," the officer told 7.30.

"It took one of them near on two years to get here, and every day in that two years I was absolutely worried sick about his safety.

"I knew he'd finished his employment, lost his income, and I don't know how you survive in a country — in a place like that — where there's that level of threat.

"The Taliban wanted one of them dead and there were people out there willing to pay a price for the head of someone who supported the coalition."

The character test

Peter Dutton says there is no new information that would change Hassan's visa determination. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )

But a routine counter-intelligence interview in 2014 undid Hassan's hopes of resettlement.

A US contractor conducting the interview found a possible association with the Taliban.

The finding was used as the basis for rejecting Hassan's visa application.

A later interview in Islamabad by Australian officials also found against Hassan, citing he was stubborn and unwilling to accept an interpreter to assist him with questions he did not clearly understand.

It meant Hassan failed the character test.

"Essentially anybody in Kandahar in Afghanistan who is a male and is Pashtun would have a possible association with insurgent groups, that's where the insurgency started," Captain Scanes said.

"I served my country for over 19 years and I understand full well the national interest and the importance of national security.

"And I'm all for robust security vetting processes for people wanting to immigrate to Australia — I absolutely believe that we need that."

But he said Hassan deserved a visa and he had spent more than $25,000 trying to have Hassan's initial rejection reviewed.

He also spent three days waiting outside Mr Dutton's office to try to speak to the Minister.

"I've lived and worked with Hassan for nine, 10 months, and during that time you learn to form a very close personal bond, and it has to be one of absolute trust," he said.

"I can see the concern that people may have over those comments but again, it is a complex environment and a complex issue of possible association with insurgent groups, and that's why I've asked the Minister's department to sit down with me and provide clarity over that issue."

'He has really lost hope'

Jason Scanes talks to former Afghan interpreters at a meeting in the Hunter Valley. ( ABC News )

There is already a close-knit community of Afghan interpreters who have resettled in NSW's Hunter region.

Abdull considers his Army colleagues to be family and Australia his new home, but still fears for the safety of his extended family back in Afghanistan.

That leaves him with mixed feelings.

"I am proud I used to work for the Australian Defence Force as an interpreter," he told 7.30.

"But the other way, I'm very much regretful that my family's left back home and they're just suffering because of my employment."

He is deeply concerned for the welfare of his childhood friend and colleague, Hassan.

"Hassan is really suffering," he said.

"He has really lost hope because … his visa is not granted.

"I cannot even name how stressful and how hard the situation was for him."

Captain Scanes's protest and the money he has spent have been to no avail, turning his frustration to anger.

"Realistically I'd have been better off donating $25,000 to one of the major parties and perhaps I'd be sleeping a lot better years ago, and my interpreter would be here safe," he said.

"That's what it comes down to from what I can see."

A spokesperson for Mr Dutton said the latest review of Hassan's case found no new information that would lead to a review of his visa refusal.