In fact, the government has the power to cancel the entry visa in the country, a provision that would be valid for 3 years
MELBOURNE. The n.1 of world tennis Novak Djokovic wins the appeal that challenged the expulsion measure from Australia linked to Covid regulations. The Melbourne court judge “canceled the visa cancellation” and ordered the “Government to pay legal fees. Immediate issue and return of the passport for Djokovic ».
Government lawyers retort: ”The minister has the personal power to expel the player.” Immigration Minister Alex Hawke can now intervene personally and still decide to cancel the visa for other reasons, the Guardian reports. If that happens, the case could go back to court again as Djokovic would risk being banned from Australia for three years if the minister decides to cancel his visa again. The Australian Open kicks off on Monday 17 January and the participation of the world No. 1 thus remains in doubt.
Djokovic had declared to the border authorities upon entering Australia that he was not vaccinated and that he had had covid twice, in June 2020 and last December 16, which was then denied on December 22. The Guardian reports it citing documents that emerged from the hearing today in a Melbourne court at the conclusion of which judge Anthony Kelly decided to invoke the cancellation of the visa.
“I’ve had covid twice. I had the covid in June 2020 and I had the covid recently – I tested positive for the PCR – on December 16, 2021 “, answered Djokovic to specific questions, according to the transcript of the interview with the Australian border officials, published by the Guardian .
Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has 4 hours from reading the Melbourne court decision on the validity of Novak Djokovic’s visa to let people know if he intends to use his powers and still cancel the Serbian champion’s permit to enter the country. However, Hawke may not apply the 3-year re-entry ban provided by immigration law in these circumstances. The minister, who according to sources in the newspaper is considering canceling the visa, can do so if he believes that the person poses “a risk to the health, safety or public order of the Australian community or a part of it” or to ” the health and safety of one or more individuals “. (HANDLE).