Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has used his personal power to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa, but the world No.1’s lawyers are understood to be set to file an immediate injunction against the decision.
Djokovic could be forced to leave the country within hours and faces a three-year ban. The move has thrown the tennis world no.1’s quest for a 10th Australian Open into turmoil along with the tournament, after a draw was already made with him in it as top seed.
Facing deportation, he will face a directions hearing before Judge Tony Kelly in the Federal Circuit Court on Friday night, which is set to get underway at 8:45pm.
Hawke released a statement on Friday saying: “Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that 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.
“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.”
The personal powers granted to the Immigration Minister to cancel visas are broad. If Djokovic is unable to successfully appeal the decision, he faces a three-year ban from being granted another visa, although that can be waived.
The Serbian champion had been waiting for a decision for almost a week on whether the Australian government would revoke his visa for a second time as the row over his medical exemption from the country’s COVID-19 inoculation rules.
The unvaccinated Djokovic, who has now learned his first round opponent in the grand slam – probably next Monday or Tuesday – will be his fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, was reportedly determined to continue the fight in the event the verdict went against him.
Djokovic has been to practise at the Rod Laver Arena where he’s won his nine Australian Open crowns as if he were preparing as usual.
Novak Djokovic reacts as he defeats Alexander Zverev in the US Open semi-final. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Yet the noise surrounding the 34-year-old’s potential reappearance continued to be deafening, with Djokovic’s cause clearly not helped by his admission that a wrong entry declaration had been made on his visa.
A box was ticked that confirmed he had not travelled abroad in the two weeks before leaving for Australia, even though he had actually been to Spain from Serbia.
He also acknowledged he shouldn’t have done an interview and photoshoot for a French newspaper while infected with COVID-19 before Christmas.
One online poll by the News Corp media group showed that 83% of respondents were now backing the idea of the government trying to deport Djokovic.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said most Australians disapproved of Djokovic’s stance, saying: “Most of us thought because Mr Djokovic hadn’t been vaxxed twice that he would be asked to leave – well, that was our view, but it wasn’t the court’s view.
“The vast majority of Australians … didn’t like the idea that another individual, whether they’re a tennis player or … the king of Spain or the Queen of England, can come up here and have a different set of rules to what everybody else has to deal with.”
Top players were also continuing to have their say, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, one of Djokovic’s biggest rivals for the title, asserting on Thursday: “For sure, he’s (Djokovic) been playing by his own rules and has been doing what not many players had the guts to do.
“Especially after the ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country.”
All-time great Martina Navratilova had advice for Djokovic, saying that sometimes your personal beliefs have to be trumped by what’s good for the greater good, for those around you, for your peers.”
Urging him to “suck it up” and go home, she added: “Get vaccinated or just don’t go play.”
(With AAP)
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes ND will make Millions from it
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thats a lie baha. Do your research.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
AA I think the "make up your own mind" Bit is the issue. We arnt allowed to make up our own minds sadly. One place they do let us make up our own mind is on election day and very sadly Albo may get in by hatred of scomo/Hawke...
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
So we're playing ideological police now. His thoughts were the crime? How on Earth did we get here?
loop
Guest
BAHAHAHA go get stuffed Novax
baha
Guest
Being a person of great influence and idolised by many, his antivax stance is a threat to the public. If he was a nobody then it's not an issue. You can say it's unfair but it's the same reason why it's a bigger deal when footy players are caught doing drugs or drink driving than a regular bloke.
baha
Guest
All vaccines used in Australia went through the full approval process, not an emergency pathway
baha
Guest
Go ahead, link us these so-called list. I hope it's not just a random JPG file from anonymous social media sources
Nat
Roar Guru
It's not the first time Jacko and I have crossed swords and TBHI was pleasantly surprised with the maturity he initially replied with. Then, of course, when he realises his argument was falling down he reverts back to the old go to: tell you what position you have and attack you personally while tell you you have been rude to him. At the very least I'm glad I never have to share the same oxygen at the pub. He'll be stuck at home on facebook getting ever more angry because no ones cares about his perceived entitlements.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Scrum you have my sympathy. I too have been involved with Nats discussions. The common elements are his opinions must be accepted as facts, anything you post he demands a high level of proof which he never demands of himself. He ignores or disregards evidence which is contrary to his beliefs . And then almost inevitably he resorts to aggressive anti social and at times plain insulting language. But your last sentence hits the nail on the head- his modus operandi displays the emotional maturity of an early teen who lacks self control. Sadly and I have been guilty of this he drags you down to his level of discourse through sheer frustration.
Nat
Roar Guru
“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open." Yep, very adult of him to try and tie up the court system long enough to play. Is it "fair and balanced" to buy your way into a supreme courts for a game when real legal issues wait?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Oh I see the condition of the person dying is now your arguement? So how many of all deaths are due to other conditions Scrum? you bring up a fantastic point dont you. So unvaccinated deaths are because they arnt vaccinated but vaccinated deaths are because they all have "Underlying" conditions. Amazing how that works eh!! You just argued my point for me ...thanks..... You forgot to mention that most deaths are of older people and many of them have underlying conditions and the younger deaths are also around underlying conditions.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
“What health advice don’t I believe. “ Well you have stated to me that the vaccine is ineffective. That is clearly against the health advice. So millions of vaccinated people are getting Covid and you say the health advice is accurate? Why is the vaccine not stopping people from getting covid? Thats what they do isnt it? The health advice is designed to help the health services. Nothing more. Effective Vaccines stop infection. This isnt even delaying infections. But lets all get more jabs and more jabs.... Then boost those jabs because they are so useless they need a booster or 2...or 3...or 4 eh??? Just keep getting jabbed Scrum. Do what they say.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Nat you have my sympathy. I too have been involved with Jacko discussions. The common elements are his opinions must be accepted as facts, anything you post he demands a high level of proof which he never demands of himself. He ignores or disregards evidence which is contrary to his beliefs . And then almost inevitably he resorts to aggressive anti social and at times plain insulting language. But your last sentence hits the nail on the head- his modus operandi displays the emotional maturity of an early teen who lacks self control. Sadly and I have been guilty of this he drags you down to his level of discourse through sheer frustration.
Nat
Roar Guru
Poor little darling, shifting the posts way over to Novak post deportation quotes now because you cannot support any of the BS you posted. :thumbup: I've said repeatedly that I have no issue with Novak's choices but you want to try position me in way so you can recreate an argument that has nothing to do with the original. Your head is stuck so far up your own A you have no idea where the high is little buddy. Come back when your balls have dropped and you might have a deeper, more mature perspective instead of your entitled BS attitude you have now.
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
I suggest you listen to the interviews he conducts with independent doctors and scientists world wide and make up your own mind.
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
The jabs are killing people here in SA as well. Couple of people I knew. They all either had 1 or 2 jabs or booster.
scrum
Roar Rookie
“What health advice don’t I believe. “ Well you have stated to me that the vaccine is ineffective. That is clearly against the health advice. What’s more the health advice has been proven to be absolutely correct based on hospitalisation numbers. You seem to be arguing because it is not 100% effective it is a failure which by any reasonable assessment is plainly nonsense. The overwhelming majority of health experts be they in Government jobs, academia or front line workers all have the same plea “ get vaccinated “. But you know better - some elderly vaccinated people with underlying health issues have died therefore the vaccine is a failure. And to repeat - no one claims because you are vaccinated you are safe from COVID . What is claimed and has been demonstrably proved correct is that it greatly improves your chances of remaining well and reducing the impact of COVID. You know once polio was a devastating disease - not that long ago 70 years and guess how it was eliminated- well surprise ,surprise- vaccination.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Well I guess I dont need to go looking for proof of your mental age. Look at these…Are they quotes ??? I clearly see who the adult in this whole saga has been. “I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this,” Djokovic said. “I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country. “I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love. stuff-logo “I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament. “Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, team, supporters, fans and my fellow Serbians for your continued support. You have all been a great source of strength to me.”
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Paulo Thank you for the sympathy.