Australia canceled Djokovic’s visa and denied him entry on arrival, saying he “failed to provide” the evidence necessary for the vaccine exemption.
Australia will not immediately expel world tennis number one Novak Djokovic as the star has remained in immigrant custody, a government lawyer said in a court hearing.
In a hearing Thursday, representatives of the Serbs and the Immigration Minister reached an agreement that no action would be taken to deport the overwhelming winner 20 times before Monday’s hearing in federal court.
State attorney Christopher Tran has said Australia has no plans to deport him until the final court hearing.
Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly said there had been a delay in receiving the request for a review of the visa rulings and the temporary ban on Djokovic’s deportation.
Australia canceled Djokovic’s visa and denied him entry on his earlier arrival, the country’s border agency said, saying the athlete “had not provided the proper evidence” to meet the requirements for ‘Entrance.
The Serbian had obtained a medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination in order to play at the Australian Open, which begins in less than two weeks.
Djokovic was taken from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport to the Park Hotel, a government detention hotel known for several coronavirus outbreaks, pending his deportation.
“The rules are the rules.”
Tennis star Novak Djokovic faces deportation from Australia after his visa was canceled for “failing to provide” the necessary evidence for the vaccine exemption.
Read more: https://t.co/UdBrL0OU13 pic.twitter.com/CCZ2ScSRFE
– English Al Jazeera (@AJEnglish) January 6, 2022
Judge Kelly said he was open to Djokovic testifying remotely from immigration detention. He also warned that he would not be swayed by Tennis Australia’s preference for the case to be resolved by Tuesday.
“If I can say with due respect, the tail won’t wag the dog here,” he said.
Nick Wood, who represents Djokovic, said he was available to discuss his client’s fate with authorities, noting that resolving the visa issue was essential.
“As I sit here, the lack of a visa, if the cancellation decision is valid, is an insurmountable obstacle to Mr. Djokovic’s participation in the tournament,” said Wood.
Earlier Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Djokovic’s visa had been canceled on social media.
“The rules are the rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strict border policies have been essential for Australia to have one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we continue to be vigilant, ”he said on Twitter.
‘Take for fools’
The state government of Victoria has demanded that all players, staff and fans attending the Australian Open be fully vaccinated, unless there is a real reason why an exemption should be. granted.
The decision to grant Djokovic a medical exemption sparked an outcry on social media and criticism from other sportsmen, health professionals and politicians.
Following the announcement, former Australian Rules player Kevin Bartlett tweeted that the Australians “were taken for fools”.
Another former player, Corey McKernan, tweeted: “People with loved ones who are dying / some in need of urgent treatment cannot enter their own condition. You tell people they can’t go to Coles or a cafe without being vaxxed, but if you’re number one in the world you get a pass? “
Many Australians, and especially those in Melbourne which hosts the tournament, have been subjected to a series of long lockdowns over the past two years.
The federal and state governments have strongly emphasized the importance of vaccinations. As a result, 90 percent of people over 16 have received a double dose and a booster program is being rolled out.
“This sends a terrible message to millions of people who seek to reduce the risk of # COVID19Aus for themselves and others. #Vaccination shows respect, Novak, ”tweeted Stephen Parnis, former vice president of the Australian Medical Association.
“I don’t care how good a tennis player he is. If he refuses to be vaccinated, he should not be allowed in.
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