The cancellation of the Serbian tennis player’s visa was revoked on Monday January 10 by a federal judge, who ordered his release and demanded: “What more might this man have done?” The Australian government might, however, use its discretion to revoke this visa once more and prevent Novak Djokovic from playing the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Australian government’s decision to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa has been repealed “In a sensational way” this Monday January 10, Australian daily reports The Age. The Serbian tennis player, who had not been authorized to enter Australia on Wednesday January 5 for lack of a valid vaccination status, will therefore be able to stay in the country “And play the Australian Open there” in Melbourne, increases ABC.
According to the Australian site, Federal Judge Anthony Kelly ordered that Novak Djokovic be released from the administrative detention center, where he was being held by immigration services, and that his passport be returned to him. The Australian federal government will also have to cover its legal costs.
The Australian tennis federation and the government of the state of Victoria had granted the Serbian “Exemption from vaccination”, because it had recently been contaminated with Covid-19, recalls ABC.
In particular, Judge Kelly was critical of the circumstances surrounding Novak Djokovic’s visa cancellation. The latter had been told that he “He would be given time to object to this cancellation”, the site says, but the Australian authorities had communicated their decision to cancel the visa “Without giving Mr. Djokovic the opportunity to challenge this decision in an appropriate manner”.
“Unreasonable” cancellation
The Age clarifies that the judge “Did not render a decision” but issued orders following the Australian Home Office “Acknowledged visa cancellation unreasonable”.
ABC also notes that the judge was annoyed when discussing the medical exemption granted to Novak Djokovic “By an eminently qualified professor and physician, and in addition to this, separately granted by another independent panel of experts appointed by the government of the state of Victoria” :
It’s something that bothers me: what more might this man have done? ”
According to ABC, Australian government lawyers have suggested that Immigration and Citizenship Minister Alex Hawke might “To use one’s discretion” to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa once more and “Get him out of the country”. This power allows the Minister of the Interior to cancel a visa if he considers that the person presents a risk to “The health and safety of the Australian community or part of the Australian community” or for “The health or safety of one or more individuals”, assure The Age.
“If this man is to be sent back in this way, he will not be able to return to Australia for three years”, However, Judge Kelly warned.