New episode in the telenovela starring the number 1 tennis player in the world in the ATP ranking: Australian immigration minister Alex Hawke has once again rejected Novak Djokovic’s permit. The recent Covid infection of the sample is not sufficient, according to the Canberra government, to obtain an exemption from the vaccination requirements required to stay and “work” in Australia. On the contrary: Djokovic, not being vaccinated, could pose a risk to public health. The tennis player’s visa was reinstated by a federal judge last Monday after the athlete’s appeal.
The government communiqué
This is the statement from the minister: «Today I exercised my power under section 133C (3) of the Migration Law to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic for reasons of health and good order, on the basis that this was in the public interest. This decision followed the Federal Circuit and Family Court orders of January 10, 2022, which overturned a previous annulment decision on grounds of procedural fairness. In making this decision, I have carefully considered the 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 ”.
The cancellation of the visa – said Morrison – aims to protect the result of the “sacrifices” made by Australians during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic and rightly want the effect of those sacrifices to be protected,” Morrison said in a statement, referring to the case of the Serbian player.
The Serbian champion on Saturday 15 January will have to present himself before the Australian immigration authorities for questioning. In the meantime, he will be able to move freely, so he will not have to return to the detention center. The tennis player risks being banned from entering Australia for 3 years.
The government lawyers, however, had immediately put the no. 1 of the world on the warning that Minister Hawke could exercise his personal power to cancel the visa. On Wednesday, Djokovic admitted on Instagram that his agent had made an “administrative error” by claiming that the champion had not traveled in the two weeks prior to his flight to Australia. In short, the tennis player will not be able to play the first round of the Australian Open, despite having already been included in the scoreboard. Unless there is a final attempt by his lawyers to lodge a further appeal with the judicial authorities.