Key reason for cancelling Novak Djokovic’s visa a second time

The key reason for cancelling tennis superstar Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa for a second time has finally been revealed.

The key reason for cancelling Novak Djokovic’s visa has been revealed.

The world no.1 player’s Australian Open dreams have been dealt a devastating blow, with the government moving to deport Djokovic despite a judge ruling he could stay.

The Serbian star has sought and obtained an urgent injunction to prevent the government from deporting him.

Djokovic was detained by Border Force officials on Saturday morning after attending an interview.

He could potentially be banned from returning to Australia for three years after his visa was cancelled.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has used his discretionary powers to overrule the court decion on Friday night.

The visa cancellation came a day after Djokovic had been officially named in the Australian Open draw - at which the Serb was vying for his 10th win.

In a statement, Mr Hawke said the decision was made after considering the evidence.

“I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic,” he said.

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

Novak Djokovic headed straight to the tennis courts after the Federal Circuit Court ruled he could stay. Picture: William West/AFP

Djokovic’s lawyers have filed an injunction in a last-ditch effort to let him stay and play in Australia.

That would leave open the possibility of his case being heard in the midst of the competition, but he would unlikely be able to play if he is sent back to a detention centre.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a brief statement about the decision.

“I understand that following careful consideration, action has been taken by the Minister to cancel Mr Djokovic’s visa held on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” Mr Morrison said.

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

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

“Our strong border protection policies have kept Australians safe, prior to Covid and now during the pandemic.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australians “rightly expect” the result of the sacrifices they had made during the pandemic to be protected. Picture: AFP

The minister’s announcement wraps up a chaotic week that drew Australia’s immigration policies into the international spotlight.

Djokovic was granted a visa to enter Australia despite not being vaccinated on the basis that he had had a recent Covid-19 infection.

But, when he arrived at Melbourne Airport, he was told that he did not a valid exemption, and amid eight hours of interrogation by Australian Border Force officials, his visa was cancelled.

His lawyers immediately set out to appeal, with the case heard on Monday.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke took days to make his decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A judge quashed the visa cancellation and freed Djokovic from detention, saying the world no. 1 had been denied procedural fairness.

Mr Hawke immediately indicated he was considering whether to use another mechanism to kick Djokovic out.

ALBO SLAMS SCOMO

The Morrison government was roasted by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese for how long it took to make a decision on Djokovic’s visa.

Mr Albanese said it needed to act quickly to put the matter to rest, slipping in a brutal sledge.

“(Scott Morrison) has been using this Novak Djokovic saga as a distraction from the shortages in our supermarkets, the shortages in our chemists, the shortages of workers, the uncertainty that people have had over kids’ boosters and the return to school and all the rest of it,” he told reporters on Friday.

“But what we have from a government is day after day after day not making a decision where it is now almost 60 days since his visa was granted.”

A spokesman for Mr Hawke said he received “lengthy submissions and documentations” from the tennis player’s legal team on Wednesday, which delayed the visa decision.

Mr Morrison was asked at a Thursday evening press conference “how long will this drag on for?”

“I will refer to Mr Hawke’s most recent statement and that position hasn’t changed,” he said in response.

“These are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by Minister Hawke and I don’t propose to make any further comment at this time.”

Djokovic’s fans took to the streets of Melbourne after a court ruled in the tennis star’s favour. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

Djokovic is now under scrutiny by both Spanish and Serbian officials for allegedly breaching Covid-19 protocols in both countries.

Spanish authorities are allegedly probing whether the unvaccinated Djokovic entered the country illegally.

Djokovic travelled from Serbia to Spain last month to train at the Soho Tennis Academy in Marbella, which uses the same court surface as the Australian Open, even though at that time it was unknown whether he would be allowed into Australia.

It has been reported Djokovic did not request permission from the Spanish embassy in Belgrade or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enter the country without a Covid-19 vaccine, despite Serbian citizens being required to present a certificate or exemption to enter the country.

In his home country, Djokovic is being investigated after admitting he participated in an interview while knowing he was Covid positive.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Tuesday that Djokovic would have “clearly violated the rules” if he knew the test result before he participated.

Djokovic took to social media in an attempt to clear up confusion, saying he had made an “error of judgment” in not immediately isolating after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

He also blamed “human error” by his support team for the mistake on his travel document.