Djokovic Djcision: Djported

Novak Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled by the Morrison government. A legal challenge to that decision may follow.

Djokovic may be back in court before he's on one

Considering how many thousands of Australians are testing positive to Covid every day, I guess it makes sense to throw the one bloke we know isn’t infectious out of the country:

Novak Djokovic has had his visa cancelled for a second time, casting serious doubt over whether he can play in the Australian Open.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced he had invoked his discretionary power, immediately seeking to deport the tennis star.

A statement from Hawke was released on Friday afternoon.

“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 …

“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

If Djokovic isn’t infectious, how can this decision be made on health grounds?

UPDATE II:

“Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected,” Mr Morrison said.

“This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today.”

This doesn’t make any sense. Whatever sacrifices people made are not altered in any way by whether Djokovic stays or goes.

You can test this at home. First, examine your sacrifices as they were when Djokovic was permitted entry.

Now check them again after his visa was cancelled.

UPDATE II:

In fairness, hard to fault Morrison’s decision to deport Djokovic on health grounds

The bloke who tested negative and has been here a week is clearly a massive danger to a country that reported 771,260 known covid cases in the last seven days

— Adam Schwab (@lux_schwab) January 14, 2022

UPDATE III:

Lawyers for Novak Djokovic claim Alex Hawke’s reasons for cancelling his visa were “patently irrational” and based on the claim that the world No 1 being in Australia could excite “anti-vaxx sentiment”.

If that really is Hawke's line, it's weak. We're 92 per cent vaccinated. 

Mr Wood added that the reasons for cancelling Djokovic’s visa a second time were in “stark contrast” to the decision to cancel his visa by the Border Force delegate at the airport.

Djokovic’s appeal is underway with an initial directions hearing before the same judge that quashed his last visa cancellation ...

Djokovic is expected to “stay where he is” tonight (Friday) and has been called to attend the offices of the Immigration Minister on Lonsdale St at 8am on Saturday.

Please click for continuing court coverage.

UPDATE IV:

Djokovic visa cancelled on the grounds of “public interest” relating to “health” and “good order”.

1. With covid cases in the hundreds of thousands, how can it be “health”?
2. How can one person whose job is hitting a ball with a racquet be a threat to civic “order”?

— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) January 14, 2022

UPDATE V. This argument is ridiculous:

The federal government argues Djokovic’s presence could be a “risk to the health of the Australian community”, despite agreeing he has a minimal risk of transmitting Covid-19 to others.

“I have given consideration to the fact that Mr Djokovic is a high profile unvaccinated individual who has indicated publicly that he is opposed to becoming vaccinated against Covid-19,” Mr Hawke said.

In his arguments Mr Hawke said Djokovic being allowed to stay in the country would encourage others not to get the jab or their boosters, which would put pressure on the Australian health system.

The logical extension of this would be to exile unvaccinated Australians.

UPDATE VI. It's a well-known fact that Australians are deeply influenced by the opinions of Serbian tennis players:

The Australian government concedes Novak Djokovic “entered Australia with a valid medical exemption and poses a low risk of contracting the virus” but cancelled his visa because he might set a bad example given his “position as a role model.” https://t.co/iEnmob7LPb pic.twitter.com/sJWYiAT7cE

— Helen Andrews (@herandrews) January 15, 2022

UPDATE VII:

The Chinese government publicly humiliates those that violated COVID restrictions.

1984 in 2021.pic.twitter.com/l8WlqfxVz2

— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) December 29, 2021