Novak Djokovic left Australia on Sunday evening after a court appeal challenging the deportation order was dismissed. Three Federal Court judges on Sunday upheld Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision on Friday to revoke the 34-year-old Serbian player’s visa on grounds of public interest for not being vaccinated for COVID-19.
Djokovic said, “I am deeply disappointed by the court’s decision to reject my application for judicial review of the minister’s decision to cancel the visa, which means that I cannot live in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.” I can take it.’ “I respect the court’s decision and will cooperate with the authorities concerned regarding my return from the country,” he said.
Djokovic said that after his visa was revoked for the first time when he arrived in Melbourne on January 6, everyone’s attention was on him, which made him feel uncomfortable. “I hope everyone’s attention will now be focused on the sport and tournament that I love,” he said. Tennis Australia said it ‘respects the decision of the Federal Court.’ And also said, ‘We look forward to a competitive and exciting Australian Open 2022 and wish all the players the best.’
The deportation order usually means the person cannot return to Australia for three years. In Serbia, President Aleksandr Vucic said the hearing was ‘a farce with a lot of lies.’ “He thinks he tortured Djokovic for 10 days, but in fact he insulted himself,” he told reporters. If you said that someone who hasn’t vaccinated doesn’t have the right to enter, then Novak wouldn’t have come or got vaccinated.’
He said that after talking to Djokovic he said he was “looking forward to seeing him in his home country in Serbia where he is always welcome.” Vucic, however, did not say whether Djokovic has said that he will come to Serbia first. Chief Justice James Allsop said the decision depended on whether the minister’s decision was “irrational or legally unreasonable”. Allsop said, ‘It is not within the function of the court to decide on the merits or wisdom of the judgement.’
The panel of judges did not give a written explanation of its decision on Sunday. Allsop said it would be released in the coming days. Allsop said, ‘This is not an appeal against the government’s decision. It was an application made in the court for review asking to review the validity of the minister’s decision. Djokovic has also been asked to pay the government’s court expenses.
The minister revoked the visa on the grounds that Djokovic’s presence in Australia could be risky to the health and ‘good order’ of the Australian public and could adversely affect vaccination efforts by others in Australia. Hawke welcomed the decision on Sunday. His office, however, did not say when Djokovic would leave.
“Australia’s stringent border security policies have kept us safe during the pandemic, resulting in the lowest mortality rates, the strongest economic recovery and the highest vaccination rates,” he said. Djokovic could appeal to the High Court but he does not have time to do so as he will still not be able to participate in the Australian Open. Djokovic said, ‘I would like to rest for a while before making any further comments on this matter.’
Djokovic’s visa was earlier canceled on his arrival in Melbourne on January 6. Djokovic’s visa was revoked by the border official on the grounds that he did not receive a medical exemption as per Australian rules for visitors without vaccination.
A court had granted relief to Djokovic following a border officer’s order to revoke his visa, but the minister then exercised his powers. Djokovic’s lawyers filed an appeal in the Federal Circuit and Family Court within three hours of Hawke’s decision on Friday. The matter was referred to the Federal Court on Saturday. The three judges heard the matter for five hours on Sunday and gave their verdict after two hours.
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