Scott Morrison has attempted to draw a distinction between the hardline deportation of Novak Djokovic and the kid-glove approach to anti-vaxxers in the Coalition, saying the Serbian tennis star had been banished from Australia because he failed to comply with border entry requirements.

But the Prime Minister opened the door to allowing Djokovic to return to Australia before the end of an automatic three-year ban, as the Serbian government lashed Canberra over the treatment of its national hero.