Posted on 01/14/2022 8:22:07 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has used his discretionary ministerial power to cancel tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa on the grounds of health and good order, saying it was in the public interest to do so.
“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds,” Hawke said in a statement on Jan. 14.
"In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.
“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This comes after days of deliberation about the tennis star’s fate after he won a court case to overturn an earlier visa cancellation.
It is not known if the Serbian player will contest the minister’s decision.
Djokovic had applied for a medical exemption to enter Australia to compete in the Australian Open tennis tournament because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.
He contended that he should be granted the exemption because he had tested positive in December.
The tennis world number one player was detained by Australian Border Force upon arrival on Jan. 6 and his visa cancelled because he did not meet Australia’s entry requirements that overseas arrivals must be fully vaccinated.
Djokovic was released from immigration detention on Jan. 11 after federal judge Anthony Kelly re-instated his visa, deeming the cancellation “unreasonable” because the player had not been given enough time to respond to officials.
The Australian government acknowledged it had not given Djokovic enough time to make his case while he was being held after arriving in the country.
The revelation that Djokovic had tested positive for COVID-19 in December also forced him to issue a public statement apologising for not isolating after getting his result. He said that he had felt obliged to do an interview and believed since he was asymptomatic and was practising social distancing that it would be alright.
"This was an error of judgement, and I accept I should have rescheduled this commitment,” Djokovic said.
“I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L’Equipe interview as I did not want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken.”
Djokovic was scheduled to play against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of matches on Jan. 17 at the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, deported Czech tennis player, Renata Voracova, has vowed to pursue Tennis Australia for compensation after she left the country on the weekend over a visa dispute.
What a bunch of crap.
Weasel bureaucrat.
I guess Novak can commiserate with Jimmy Conners as the only two number 1 players (Conners in 1974) to be banned from playing in one of the four grand slam tournaments. Australia has issues that will take years to get over!
Nice tweet =>
In fairness, hard to fault Morrison’s decision to deport Djokovic on health grounds
The bloke who tested negative and has been here a week is clearly a massive danger to a country that reported 771,260 known covid cases in the last seven days
2:19 AM · Jan 14, 2022
https://mobile.twitter.com/lux_schwab/status/1481888727907848194
There is something very smelly about that Schwab name.
He should boycott and never play in that tourney again. They need him more than the vice versa.
The real reason for this second withdrawal is the fear the Australian government has that Djokovic will cause even more locals (formerly known as citizens ) to dig their heels in - over being required to be jabbed with ... It has zilch to do with health. It is all about the control.
RE: He should boycott and never play in that tourney again.
Only Australia. Hey, I’m sure the US OPEN and our country will allow Novak to play here.
He was mocking the Aussie govt.
He forgot the /s tag. LOL
It seems to me that Australia has returned to its origins as a penal colony, and henceforth no one in their right mind will go there voluntarily. I certainly never will.
Australian government, police and health officials individuals and institutions who imposed and or enforced the COVID tyranny down under should be sanctioned like Iranians or Chinese Communists or Russians.
Travel bans, the freezing of bank accounts and so on.
Turn the screws on them.
I'll admit it is Austrailia's call because he is not a citizen, and it is their border. Think of how torqued the CITIZENS, who are almost imprisoned, would react. And who could blame them?
All this to keep Djokovic from winning another Open?
RE: The bloke who tested negative and has been here a week is clearly a massive danger to a country that reported 771,260 known covid cases in the last seven days
And how does that assure them that those vaccinated players won’t be carrying the virus and transmitting it to others?
“They need him more than the vice versa.”
No they don’t. The Australian will feature 18 of the top 20 in the world this year. And they probably filed correctly for their VISA along with revealing any positive tests they had as late as December. And if they did have it, they, also, most likely would have quarantined themselves which he admitted was an “error in judgement” for not doing, another name for his not really caring who he infected.
The Australian government made it quite clear well in advance that they required anyone entering the country from the outside to be vaccinated. There were no secrets here. He is to blame for his not being allowed to enter the country, not the country. If he had followed the rules, he’d be in. He tried to work around them and was caught doing so. It’s their country. So it was his decision to try to get by and not be allowed to play, or even get into the country. And it didn’t work.
wy69
RE: All this to keep Djokovic from winning another Open?
Too simplistic a view. All these to prevent Djokovic ( a world famous name ) from setting an example for Australians to follow.
Can't allow a anti-vax role model
It doesn’t, of course. The author of the tweet was trolling the Aussie govt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.