A judge has overturned the Australian government’s decision to deny Novak Djokovic entry into the country - but his visa could still be cancelled by the country’s immigration minister.
The tennis world number one flew into Melbourne last week to compete and defend his title in the upcoming Australia Open and was granted a medical exemption for entry into the country by Tennis Australia and Victoria state.
However Australia’s border control officers who held Djokovic at Melbourne airport for several hours before they decided to cancel his visa.
In a statement at the time, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that “rules are rules” and said he had been advised that “such an exemption was not in place”
Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022
But Judge Anthony Kelly was not satisfied that the tennis star was given enough time to make comments on his visa cancellation. Under section 116 of the Australian Migration Act, Djokovic was supposed to have until 08:30 local time last Thursday to make comments - though it was 07:40 when a final decision was made by Border Force.
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Referencing the prime minister’s original statement, Judge Kelly said: “We all play by the same rules,” although added: “Stated in other terms: those rules were not observed.”
In court documents, it was also revealed that Djokovic is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and told border officials that he tested positive for the virus back in June 2020 and most recently on 16 December which the 34-year-old’s lawyers argue makes him eligible for an exemption to Australia’s vaccination rules.
Despite the judge’s ruling in Djokovic’s appeal, there is still a possibility he could be booted from Australia if the immigration minister Alex Hawke decides to cancel the tennis player’s visa on different grounds.
These new grounds are if Hawke feels that Djokovic that “may be, or would or might be, a risk to: (i) the health, safety or good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community,” The Daily Mail reported.
This could mean another court hearing and if Hawke does decide to exercise this power then Djokovic could be looking at a three-year ban from entering Australia.
Djokovic himself has since broken his silence and in a tweet to his 8.9m followers shared how he is “pleased and grateful” at the judge’s decision to overturn his visa cancellation.
“Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans,” he wrote.
For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong 🙏🙏🙏🙏
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 10, 2022
In a follow-up tweet, Djokovic added: “For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong.”
For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong 🙏🙏🙏🙏
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 10, 2022
Meanwhile, supporters of the tennis star in Australia have been celebrating the decision.
Wouldn’t be a #Djokovic protest without a kolo, or Serbian circle dance pic.twitter.com/h68RmUwlx5
— Michael Miller (@MikeMillerDC) January 10, 2022
People on Twitter have also been reacting to the latest developments.
For once, Nigel Farage is not a fan of Australian-style immigration rules - who saw that coming?
A huge win for @DjokerNole this morning. If the Australian government fight this they will look dreadful.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 10, 2022
Mehdi Ali, an Iranian refugee who has been detained by Australian officials for nine years ever since he travelled from Iran to Australia by boat at the age of 15, is hopeful that Djokovic will use his profile and recent experience staying in a detention hotel to speak up for other detainees.
I'm optimistic that @DjokerNole will speak about us.
— Mehdi Ali (@MehdiAli98) January 10, 2022
While an Australian nurse in reaction to the news on Djokovic, as they highlighted the realities of treating Covid patients in hospital as cases in the country have risen recently.
While an unvaccinated Novak Djokovic is in court arguing he should be allowed to stay and win a few million dollars in a tennis tournament, I’ll be at the hospital sweating in full PPE as I look after critically unwell unvaccinated covid patients while making hardly any money
— Aussie Nurse (@FrontlineRN22) January 9, 2022
Here’s how other people reacted:
Well, well Australia. How embarrassing this @DjokerNole debacle has turned out. Terrible PR for #ausopen too. International embarrassment.
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) January 10, 2022
“What more could this man have done?” says the judge in Novak Djokovic’s case, seemingly forgetting that Djokovic could simply have gotten the vaccine.
— Emma (@emma__jayne14) January 10, 2022
Further proof that Novak Djokovic is unbeatable in Australia.
— TennisBuzz (@TennisBuzzBlog) January 10, 2022
You have to admire how Morrison has managed to piss off both sides of the #novakdjokovic debate in such a short space of time
— Strolling rabbi of no fixed address (@strollingrabbi) January 10, 2022
Predict that Djokovic will be booed to within an inch of his life and this "victory" will be pyrrhic.
— Otto English (@Otto_English) January 10, 2022
I don't care if Novak Djokovic was badly advised, or felt misled by our visa system.
— James One😷 (@james00000001) January 10, 2022
He's trying to find loopholes and is a person who encouraged antivaxxers and went maskless while covid positive. Vulnerable people are influenced by famous antivaxxers, so he has blood on hands
Scott Morrison to Novak Djokovic pic.twitter.com/ay5N9KEfHA
— jack james (@cockroachemoji) January 10, 2022
OK now do the same with all the refugees locked up in the same place. https://t.co/fa7fmUjO1X
— Elaine Scattermoon (@scattermoon) January 10, 2022
rich entitled white man gets away with it. where's the breaking part of the news here https://t.co/wMSfijbTcg
— Elena (@ursulabuffayy) January 10, 2022
We’ll have to wait and see if this ruling will allow Djokovic to compete and potentially win a record 21st grand slam title and the Australian Open for a 10th time or if Australia’s immigration minister has other ideas.
