Breaking: Novak Djokovic’s visa has been revoked, just days before the Australian Open begins.
Novak Djokovic’s visa has been revoked “in the public interest” two days before the start of the Australian Open.
Officials from the court are waiting for Djokovic’s lawyers to file an appeal.
On Friday, just before 6 p.m., Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced his decision.
“Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” he said by written statement.
“In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.
“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“I’m told just a few minutes ago from by Federal Court officials, they stand ready to hear any hearing that Novak’s lawyers would want to bring before Judge (Anthony) Kelly,” A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello said to host Sylvia Jeffreys.
Djokovic has been summoned to an interview with immigration officials on Saturday morning, according to Age journalist Paul Sakkal.
On Friday evening, Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a statement addressing Mr Hawke’s decision, saying it was intended to defend Australians’ “sacrifices.”
“Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected,” the statement read.
“This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today.”
On his arrival in Melbourne last week, Djokovic was detained by the Australian Border Force on the grounds that he did not qualify for a medical exemption from the COVID-19 immunization regulations.
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Independent Tasmania Senator Jacqui Lambie this morning called for an end to the long wait.
“Why does this keep dripping out of the tap? Why hasn’t the minister done anything about this?” Senator Lambie said on Today.
“If he’s going to do him on character, because they believe that his submission has been lied on, then, you know, this is what we do when our kids play up at school. They get sent home.
“So maybe it’s about time to stop this debacle, finish it once and for all without the tap keep dripping and make up your mind.”
She asked why Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was “missing in action”.
“If you can’t make a decision on Novak Djokovic, goodness me, how are you guys running the country? This is an absolute shambles,” she said.
“Let alone what it’s making us look like to the rest of the world. It’s absolutely a shocker.”
Former Australian tennis star Sam Groth said the Djokovic situation was frustrating his fellow players.
“A lot of the players made the decision to get vaccinated, whether they wanted to or didn’t, to be able to come and play in the Australian Open,” he told Today.
“A lot of the players who made that decision just to be able to come down to Melbourne Park feel like it is one rule for Novak and one rule for everyone else.”
Djokovic’s travel declaration is being investigated by the Border Force to see if he supplied misleading information.
The issue generated a tremendous outcry in Djokovic’s home country of Serbia, with his family spearheading street rallies, while throngs gathered outside the hotel where Djokovic was temporarily confined over the weekend in Melbourne.
However, Djokovic’s zeal has waned after he acknowledged to breaking COVID-19 isolation restrictions in Serbia, an offense that may land him in prison.
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