Tennis jab rule casts doubt over Melbourne's major events

Fears are growing for Victoria’s major events after Dan Andrews ruled unjabbed tennis stars would not be allowed to compete at next year’s Australian Open.

Unvaccinated tennis stars will be banned from taking the court at next year’s Australian Open, sparking fears Victoria’s strict jabs mandate could threaten the state’s major events calendar.

Daniel Andrews on Wednesday ruled that tennis stars who have refused the jab, or even to say whether they had received the Covid vaccine, would be sidelined.

It came after days of confusion over whether they would be allowed into the country under federal border rules, and then to play under Victoria’s vaccinate mandate.

The move put the Premier at odds with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who confirmed unvaccinated players could enter Australia provided they quarantined for two weeks and talked up the need for the nation to host major events as it recovers from the pandemic.

Novak Djokovic has publicly refused to reveal whether he has been vaccinated. Picture: Michael Klein

“There needs to be a little bit of flexibility … as we go forward, I think we’ve just got to be sensible and practical. And we want major events in this country. A lot of jobs depend on it,” Mr Morrison said.

The ruling would mean that Novak Djokovic, who has publicly refused to reveal whether he has been vaccinated, could not defend his title and play for a 10th Australian Open crown.

Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke last week said that anyone who travelled to Australia must be fully vaccinated.

But the federal government said on Wednesday that the state could seek an exemption for unvaccinated players to come into the state if they quarantine.

Mr Andrews quickly ruled that out.

“If we don’t apply for an exemption, then no exemption will be granted and the whole issue is basically resolved,” he said.

“I’m not going to say to people they can’t go to the pub tonight unless they’re double vaccinated but certain high-profile people, who choose not to be vaccinated … I’m not going to be facilitating them coming here when they don’t need to come here. It’s not a must.”

Unvaccinated stars will not be allowed to play in the 2022 Australian Open.

Mr Andrews has said that Victoria’s tough jabs mandate, which locks unvaccinated people out of major events, restaurants, pubs and retail stores, will remain in place throughout 2022.

It has prompted concerns about the potential impact it could have on major events, including the Grand Prix.

Opposition major events spokesman David Southwick said: “We need a national approach or Victoria risks losing more major events if we are left behind. This is a major risk to our state being able to recover and rebuild. How can you trust the government that put us so far behind to get us out in front again?”

Peter Jones, who runs one of Australia’s leading event management companies, said Victoria’s events, hospitality and tourism sectors relied on major international drawcards like the Australian Open.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of the tough jabs mandate on events such as the F1 Grand Prix. Picture: Getty Images

“Everyone is hanging their hat on the tennis after being shut down for 18 months. There will be a flow-on effect that will go right through a number of sectors next year,” he said.

The confusion clouding the grand slam was sparked earlier this week after a leaked email from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) claimed unvaccinated stars would be granted visas if they quarantined.

Both the WTA and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr Andrews maintained he was confident the tournament would remain in Melbourne Park, despite fears other jurisdictions could attempt to poach the event.

“To be honest, I’m not particularly concerned about that. We have, all of us, worked so hard as a community so they can have an Australian Open and lots of other events,” he said, when asked if he was bracing for pushback from Tennis Australia.

He added: “It is, I think, the best grand slam event anywhere in the world … We will be hosting that event.”