Djokovic deported from Australia after court upholds visa cancellation

Novak Djokovic was on Sunday (January 16) deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Open after a court dismissed the top-ranked tennis star’s bid to restore his visa.

The 34-year-old Serb was seen boarding an Emirates flight from Melbourne to Dubai hours after three Federal Court judges upheld a decision made by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to cancel his visa on public interest grounds. The minister said Djokovic’s presence in Australia might risk “civil unrest” as he is a “talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment”.

Chief Justice James Allsop announced the court unanimously dismissed Djokovic’s application, with costs to be paid by the World No 1.

Allsop explained the decision of the court did not reflect on “the merits or wisdom of the decision” but rather whether it was so irrational as to be unlawful. Full reasons will follow at a later date.

“The amended application be dismissed with costs”.

Game, set, match. pic.twitter.com/bEDWxeH8Mo

— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) January 16, 2022

Following the decision, Djokovic – who is chasing a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title – said he was “extremely disappointed”.

“I respect the court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he said.

Full statement from @DjokerNole @10NewsFirstMelb @10NewsFirst #springst #djokovic #auspol pic.twitter.com/Dact7ex5Lt

— Simon Love (@SimoLove) January 16, 2022

Serbian prime minister criticised the decision to cancel the visa as “scandalous”.

Ana Brnabic told reporters in Belgrade: “I think the court decision is scandalous… I find it unbelievable that we have two completely contradictory court decisions within the span of just a few days.

“I am disappointed… I think it demonstrated how the rule of law is functioning, or better to say not functioning in some other countries. In any case, I can hardly wait to see Novak Djokovic in our own country, in Serbia.”

Djokovic arrived in Australia on the evening of January 5, believing that a visa granted on November 18 and a medical exemption approved by Tennis Australia and a Victorian government independent expert panel would be sufficient to enter the country.

Djokovic’s visa was first cancelled by Australian Border Force (ABF) hours after he arrived at Melbourne airport and he was taken to a detention hotel.

On Monday a federal circuit court judge restored Djokovic’s visa, concluding it was unreasonable for the ABF to renege on a deal to give him more time at the airport to address the exemption issue.

Hasn’t been easy to knock Novak Djokovic out of the #AusOpen in the last decade:

2011?
2012?
2013?
2014 L–Wawrinka??
2015?
2016?
2017 L–Istomin??
2018 L–Chung??
2019?
2020?
2021?
2022 L–Hawke??

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 16, 2022

After a week’s deliberation, Hawke cancelled Djokovic’s visa again on Friday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed the cancellation decision, arguing that Australians had “made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected”.

“This is what the minister is doing in taking this action,” Morrison said in a statement on Friday.