Novak Djokovic visa saga: Victorian government claim they had not seen criteria for exemption

The Novak Djokovic visa saga blame game has taken another twist with Victoria’s acting Premier making a huge claim and throwing Tennis Australia under a bus.

Novak Djokovic and Craig Tiley in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

The Novak Djokovic visa saga blame game has taken another twist with acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan claiming the state government was not told by Tennis Australia that the Commonwealth had warned them prior Covid infection was not a genuine medical exemption.

Letter correspondence between the federal government and Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley revealed that having acquired the virus in the past six months – which is presumed to be the basis for Novak Djokovic’s exemption against the vaccine – was not an approved exemption.

“I’m advised that Victorian government officials had not seen that correspondence,” Ms Allan said.

“That’s not that unusual because it’s correspondence between the Commonwealth government and Tennis Australia as to how players and support staff come into the country.

Vic government claim they had not been shown the letters sent to TA CEO Craig Tiley

“The role of the Victorian government here, as the city and the state that hosts the Australian Open, is to run a safe event. That has been the primary focus … How people participating in that event get into the country is a matter for the Commonwealth government. It’s not the Victorian government who issues visas.”

Ms Allan said the role of the Victorian government panel was solely to assess the eligibility of a medical exemption – under ATAGI guidelines – for players and support staff wanting to take part in the tournament.

“That is very much separate from the visa process,” she said.

“That can only come into effect once people come into the country.

“It reinforces that point that it is the Commonwealth government … that’s responsible for issuing visas (and) how they engage in that dialogue with bodies like Tennis Australia is a matter for them.”

Tennis Australia has been contacted for comment but is yet to make a public statement.

WHAT THE LETTERS SAID

The letters clearly stipulate that players that were unvaccinated but had contracted Covid in the past six months would be denied quarantine-free travel.

The letters were released after Djokovic was denied a visa upon arrival at Melbourne Airport.

The world No.1 touched down at 11pm AEDT Wednesday night and was held under police guard until it was confirmed at 10am AEDT Thursday he would not be granted entry.

Djokovic is set to learn his fate on Monday

He has since been transferred to a detention hotel where he will remain until a court hearing scheduled for Monday next week.

The first letter said: “People who have previously had COVID-19 and not received a vaccine dose are not considered fully vaccinated”.

It adds that these people would “not be approved for quarantine-free entry, regardless of whether they have received foreign vaccination exemptions”.

The same advice was shared in the second letter dated November 29, 2021.

MORE PLAYERS FACE DEPORTATION

Two other players or staff attending the Australian Open are also now being investigated, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed Friday.

She also denied allegations that Djokovic was being held against his will, and said he can return home whenever he wants.

“Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia. He is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that,” she said.