Liberal senator, Alex Antic slams Aus’ Novak Djokovic decision on Serbian TV

An outspoken critic of vax mandates, Liberal Senator Alex Antic has criticised the decision to deport Novak Djokovic, sharing his views on Serbian TV.

Liberal Senator Alex Antic has lashed out at Australia’s decision to deport Novak Djokovic on Serbian TV, describing the decision as “regrettable.”

The South Australian politician, who has recently emerged as an outspoken opponent of vaccine mandates, told his foreign audience the tennis champion posed no threat to Australia.

Speaking on Serbian morning television over the weekend he blamed “power hungry” bureaucrats for many decisions during the pandemic – despite the fact that it was his own colleague Immigration Minister Alex Hawke who ordered his deportation.

“The minister has cancelled his visa which means that he’s had to be deported, which in my view is regrettable,’’ Senator Antic said.

Mr Antic lashed Australia’s Novak Djokovic decision on Serbian TV. Picture: Facebook.

“I have written personally to the minister and said that I think he should stay.

“Minister Hawke does have the personal ability, the personal power to revoke a visa and I understand this is being done on the grounds of the public interest. I don’t know what that means.”

During the interview, Senator Antic was asked if the tennis star was deported simply because he was Serbian.

“We believe that it is happening just because he is a Serb I know it sounds paranoid, but you know us,’’ the interviewer said.

After leaving Australia on Sunday night, the Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has landed Dubai Airport. Picture: Reuters/ Loren Elliott.

Senator Antic, whose father was born in Belgrade, said he understood the sentiment.

“But look, I don’t think this has anything to do with Novak’s nationality,’’ he said.

“Frankly, Australians have an example of what happens when a nation becomes geographically isolated from the world and is effectively controlled by bureaucracy.”

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally said it was Mr Morrison who was “out there claiming that they had to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa based on the fact that it would incite anti-vaccination sentiment.”

“Hey, Mr Morrison, why don’t you have a look at George Christiansen? Why don’t you have a look at Matt Canavan? Why don’t you have a look at Senators Gerrard Rennick and Alex Antic? Members of your own government, out here in Australia, inciting anti vaccination sentiment, undermining the vaccination rollout,’’ she said.

The Morrison Government's own argument before the court was that Mr Djokovic’s visa should be cancelled because his presence here may foster anti-vaccination sentiment based on what he did and said before he was granted a visa.

— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) January 16, 2022

“I mean, you can’t be a wolf Mr Morrison, acting all tough in front of Novak Djokovic, but then be a lamb; weak and timid as you’re standing in front of your own party room.”

Earlier today the Prime Minister was asked why the tennis star was deported for anti-vaxx views while Liberal MPs campaigning along similar lines have gone unpunished.

In response, Mr Morrison said that approach risked conflating two different issues.

“In Australia, if you’re an Australian, you can be here and you can express your views,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“If you’re someone coming from overseas and there are conditions for you to enter this country, well you have to comply with them. And it’s as simple as that. This is about someone who sought to come to Australia and not comply with the entry rules at our border. That’s what this is about.”