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Djokovic deserved to play the Australian Open

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Roar Guru
20th January, 2022
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The world’s No.1 tennis player and the greatest performer at the Australian Open was sensationally deported and had his visa torn up.

It was the wrong decision. Yes, I am happily vaccinated and will get my third dose as soon as possible but the simple fact is I cannot help but feel sorry for Novak Djokovic.

Yes, he attended a photo shoot and interview while infected with COVID-19 and that is one mistake on his behalf other than not getting vaccinated.

Upon further inspection, Djokovic has every right to be here and be upset about how it all played out.

Djokovic was first granted a visa by the Australian government knowing his circumstances.

He then was given approval by Tennis Australia, who had two independent panels of medical experts who viewed his case anonymously. That was then reviewed by the state government.

Both the Victorian government and Tennis Australia released this statement on new year’s day: “Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts”.

Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park

(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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On January 2, he was granted by the Victorian government a border travel permit. So before he even set foot on Australian soil, he was given approvals by Tennis Australia and the Victorian government plus a visa by the Federal government.

Why would Djokovic fly halfway across the globe to leave family behind where he cannot celebrate Orthodox Christmas with them if he did not get assurances he would be allowed to play?

Why make him to go live in detention, win a court appeal, and have his visa cancelled a second time if he was never a chance of playing?

Just say it from the get go and avoid this entire circus all together.

Scott Morrison took no time tweeting “rules are the rules” but Morrison forgot one tiny caveat: Djokovic broke no rules or laws at all.

In effect, immigration minister Alex Hawke even admitted Djokovic was here with a valid medical exemption so essentially he did not break laws or rules.

Hawke also conceded that Djokovic poses a minimal threat to society in spreading the virus.

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The prime minster’s tweet after the appeal hearing said: “he welcomes the deportation of Djokovic to keep Australians safe”.

Novak Djokovic

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Dr John Goldman, infectious disease specialist, said the following: “but what I will tell you we’re seeing is with Omicron, we’re seeing a lot of breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals, fewer breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated and have had a booster, and we’re also beginning to see, though at a lesser rate, people who are reinfected with COVID”.

So Djokovic has a very low chance of being infected and being a threat to the community.

In fact, my sister just recovered from COVID and she received a clearance letter that she does not need to be vaccinated or get a booster for six weeks.

Why is that? Surely Djokovic fits under this? It looks like the same sort of logic is not being applied.

The main reason his visa was cancelled was “his presence in Australia could excite anti-vaccination sentiment”.

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Is playing tennis in a state with 93 per cent double dose vaccination rates such a large threat to society?

Do you really think by allowing him to play, he will really encourage people not to get vaccinated?

Do some base their decision to be vaccinated on whether he can play in a tennis tournament or not?

Do some think ‘I will only get vaxed if Djokovic is deported?’

If so, will it be enough people to have an actual difference in a state with 93 per cent double dose rates.

Do you honestly feel safer that he is no longer in the country?

Novak Djokovic plays a backhand

(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Furthermore Djokovic made these anti-vax statements in a BBC article published in 2020, before last year’s Australian Open.

In 2021, why was he allowed in the country then? If he had strong anti-vax sentiments before then, did his presence then cause such a great anti-vax movement in Australia?

Of course not. Australia is among one of the most vaccinated nations worldwide.

There are thousands of people in Australia roaming the streets freely un-vaxed. Is that such a threat to the Australian public?

As the immigration minister, power is broad and much is left to his discretion. It was always an uphill challenge to have his visa cancellation overturned.

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No doubt kicking out the world’s No.1 tennis player is a great power move to show the world we are hard on our borders, especially in an election year.

It gives the appearance of strength by the prime minister, even when members in his own party – in particular George Christensen, who has promoted some wild conspiracies – still face no consequences.

Yes, of course Djokovic should have done what the majority of the world has done and get vaccinated and stop this circus.

But he should have not been given the impression of being allowed to gain a visa, be given an exemption and later be cancelled based on a justification, which is dubious at best, when he broke no laws to begin with.

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