Australia leaves door open for Djokovic to play at next year's Open
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has left
the door open for Novak Djokovic to compete at next year's Australian Open
despite the tennis superstar facing an automatic three-year ban from entering
the country.
The world number one player left Australia late on Sunday
(Jan 16) after the Federal Court upheld the government's decision to cancel his
visa, capping days of drama over the country's COVID-19 entry rules and his
unvaccinated status.
Under immigration law, Djokovic cannot now be granted
another visa for three years unless the Australian immigration minister accepts
there are compelling or compassionate reasons.
"I'm not going to precondition any of that or say
anything that would not enable the minister to make the various calls he has to
make," Morrison told 2GB radio on Monday as Djokovic was en route to
Dubai.
"It does go over a three-year period, but there is the
opportunity for (a person) to return in the right circumstances, and that will
be considered at the time."
In a rollercoaster ride, the world's top men's player was
first detained by immigration authorities on Jan 6, ordered released by a court
on Jan 10 and then detained again on Saturday pending Sunday's court hearing.
Djokovic, 34, said he was "extremely disappointed"
by the ruling but he respected the court's decision.
"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks
has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and the
tournament I love," Djokovic said in a statement before flying out of
Melbourne.
The saga caused a spat between Canberra and Belgrade, with
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic calling the court decision
"scandalous".
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday that
she and Morrison had been in touch with Brnabic during the legal process last
week.
"I am absolutely confident that the very positive
relationship, bilateral relationship between Australia and Serbia will continue
on the strong footing that it currently enjoys," Payne told reporters.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had said Djokovic could be a
threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination
sentiment amidst Australia's worst coronavirus outbreak.
The Federal Court judges noted their ruling was based on the
lawfulness and legality of the minister's decision, but did not address
"the merits or wisdom" of the decision. They are yet to release the
full reasoning behind their decision.
POLITICAL TOUCHSTONE
The Serbian tennis player's visa saga fuelled global debate
over the rights of people who opt to remain unvaccinated as governments take
measures to protect people from the two-year pandemic.
Djokovic had been granted a visa to enter Australia, with a
COVID-19 infection on Dec 16 providing the basis for a medical exemption from
Australia's requirements that all visitors be vaccinated. The exemption was
organised via Tennis Australia and the Victoria government.
That exemption prompted widespread anger in Australia, which
has undergone some of the world's toughest COVID-19 lockdowns and where more
than 90 per cent of adults are vaccinated.
The controversy became a political touchstone for Morrison as he prepares for an election due by May, amid wrangling over responsibility between his centre-right federal coalition government and the centre-left Victoria state government.
Morrison on Monday defended his handling of the situation,
and differentiated Djokovic's case from vaccine sceptics within his own
government.
"If you’re someone coming from overseas, and there are
conditions for you to enter this country, then you have to comply with
them," he said. "This is about someone who sought to come to
Australia and not comply with the entry rules at our border."
The men's tennis governing body ATP said the decision
"marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events", adding it
respected the decision, a comment echoed by Tennis Australia.
On the tennis circuit, fellow players had become impatient
for the media circus to end.
"The situation has not been good all round for anyone.
It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that's why it
became such a mess," said former world number one Andy Murray.
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