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Djokovic detained in Australia again as visa debacle continues — Analysis

The tennis star faces deportation as authorities argue his ‘anti-vaccination sentiment’ can spark ‘civil unrest’ in Australia

Australian immigration authorities have detained Novak Djokovic, arguing that though the Serbian’s medical exemption from the Covid-19 vaccination was legitimate, his views are too harmful to let him keep.

Djokovic was detained at an deal with in Melbourne early Saturday morning, in keeping with a court docket order from the day prior, that noticed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelling the 9-time Australian Open champion visa.

Hawke cited Djokovic’s “high-profile standing and place as a job mannequin” whereas arguing that his “ongoing presence in Australia might foster… disregard for the precautionary necessities following receipt of a constructive Covid-19 check” as he defended his determination to cancel the participant’s visa.

“I think about that Mr Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia might result in a rise in anti-vaccination sentiment generated within the Australian group, doubtlessly resulting in a rise in civil unrest of the sort beforehand skilled in Australia with rallies and protests which can themselves be a supply of group transmission,” Hawke added.

No mercy for Djokovic as Australian Open timetable confirmed

Initially touring down beneath to compete within the Australian Open set for Monday, Djokovic was denied entry into the nation final week regardless of having a medical exemption for a coronavirus vaccination from Tennis Australia. That point, Australian border officers argued that his medical exemption was not sufficient to let him in, and his visa was revoked. Djokovich appealed the choice and had the court docket take his facet, permitting him to stay within the nation and prepare for the Australian Open. Nonetheless, the reprieve was short-lived as his visa was cancelled for the second time, however on totally different grounds, on Friday.

Responding to the contemporary visa cancellation, Djokovic’s lawyer advised Federal Circuit Court docket Decide Anthony Kelly on Friday that the Australian minister’s argument seems to be “starkly totally different” from the one put ahead by border officers once they cancelled the Serbian’s visa for the primary time. Hawke acknowledged that Djokovic’s medical exemption was legitimate, however insisted that his views on Covid-19 vaccination offered a dire problem to the Australian state.

The lawyer mentioned that the argument that Djokovic’s presence on the event would fan anti-vaccine sentiment is flawed because it doesn’t account for the truth that the tennis star’s potential deportation would doubtless trigger larger backlash.

Djokovich faces a 3-year-re-entry ban to Australia if he loses the court docket battle. His case is ready to be heard in full by a federal court docket on Sunday morning.

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