Nigel Farage has recently been outspoken in criticising the Australian Border Force over initially denying Novak Djokovic entry into the country - yet back in 2016 he spoke out in support of their immigration system.
When campaigning ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016, Farage made his pro-Brexit, anti-immigration stance pretty clear and called for the UK to adopt an “Australian-style immigration system” - the very same system he’s currently slagging off...
“Clear now for sake of our national security as well as for social cohesion that we must Leave EU & have Australian-style immigration system,” he tweeted.
Clear now for sake of our national security as well as for social cohesion that we must Leave EU & have Australian-style immigration system.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 30, 2016
But that’s not all, as a year earlier in 2015, Farage was already on about adopting an “an Australian-style immigration system.”
If you want to take back control of your borders so that we can have an Australian-style immigration system, you have to vote to Leave EU.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 12, 2015
Meanwhile, a few years later after the news broke last week that Djokovic’s visa had been cancelled, Farage complained on Twitter questioning whether Australia is a “banana republic” over the decision.
(Banana republic refers to a politically unstable nation economically dependent on the exportation of a limited resource product such as bananas)
As the saga continued, Farage even visited the Djokovic family in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, as they awaited the decision on Djokovic’s appeal. The former Brexit Party leader also shared how he visited the tennis star’s trophy room with Djokovic’s brother Djordje.
In the trophy room with Novak's brother Djordje. pic.twitter.com/DjgD4ItdMz
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 9, 2022
A judge has since overturned the government’s decision to deny Djokovic entry with Judge Anthony Kelly saying: “We all play by the same rules,” and 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.
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However, Australia’s immigration minister Alex Hawke has the power to cancel the tennis player’s visa on different grounds - those being if Hawke feels that Djokovic “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.
If Hawke does decide to cancel Djokovic’s visa, it would mean he would then be banned from the country for three years.
Updating his followers outside Belgrade’s parliament building in the snow, Farage told his followers he’s been “a guest of the Djokovic family,” and described how Australian authorities have been “bullying” the tennis player with “really nasty tactics.”
He described the ruling as a “big victory for freedom of choice, a big victory for common sense,” and also a “really big victory against the big state.”
An update on #Djokovic from Belgrade. pic.twitter.com/J7gi5232EL
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 10, 2022
Since vocalising criticisms against Australian immigration officials, people have been quick to duly remind Farage of his previous comments praising the system.
What about controlling their own borders Nige ? https://t.co/LZ1tPTbBGt
— Tony Clewes #FBPE (@TonyClewes) January 10, 2022
It’s like you forget this exists. pic.twitter.com/4SJNiPRU7v
— James Wood (@jamesstuartwood) January 10, 2022
There was a time when he wanted an Australian-style system... https://t.co/RZmmmHMrSx
— Samar @TheMJAP (@TheMJAP) January 10, 2022
Okay, who predicted “Nigel Farage celebrating an Eastern European winning a court battle to stay in a country even though he’s only there for purely economic reasons”?
— NewsThump (@newsthump) January 10, 2022
2022 is absolutely WILD! https://t.co/r6v9AENuz7
This you 👇 pic.twitter.com/RCszKZdE5x
— Liberal15 ⭐⭐ (@Liberal151) January 10, 2022
I do, however, love that this joker can, with a straight face, criticise the Australian government for exercising its sovereign right to control its border. https://t.co/rkp8u2WDqj
— Dave Hill (@davidspghill) January 10, 2022
Man celebrating another goverment not being able to control their borders after spending decades saying the UK cannot control its borders. #Hypocrite https://t.co/auNGN2QYJL
— Davind Cantiah (@DavindCantiah) January 10, 2022
https://t.co/Zq07fNQIrp pic.twitter.com/GtyUyUuV2o
— nüclear höliday 🦗 (@itchingseason) January 10, 2022
😆 https://t.co/R3ckGxnnH6 pic.twitter.com/tChVnapRHv
— em🐺 (@awfcemily) January 10, 2022
Awkward. Indy100 has contacted Farage to comment on his apparent change of heart.
