The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Djokovic flies out after visa appeal fails
Novak Djokovic has been deported from Australia after failing to overturn the decision to cancel his visa.
The verdict from Chief Justice James Allsop came following a unanimous decision from the three judges hearing the case at the Federal Court of Australia yesterday.
The decision means ninetime champion Djokovic will not be defending his title at the Australian Open, which starts today, and is banned from Australia for three years – although that can be waived.
Djokovic had the option of trying to take the legal fight further but said in a statement he would co-operate with the deportation despite being “extremely disappointed” by the decision.
Having already spent five nights in the Park detention hotel, he wasted no time getting out of the country and was pictured accompanied by Australian Border Force officials at Melbourne’s Tullamarine
Airport before boarding an Emirates flight to Dubai.
He said: “I would like to make a brief statement to address the outcomes of today’s court hearing.
“I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this.
“I am extremely disappointed with the ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.
“I respect the court’s ruling and I’ll co-operate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.
“I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love. I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament.”
The three judges deliberated for a little over two hours before Chief Justice Allsop delivered the verdict in Melbourne having heard submissions from both parties earlier in the day.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke re-cancelled Djokovic’s visa on Friday using personal powers after the world No 1 had won an appeal against the initial decision to bar him from the country when he arrived last week.
Djokovic had been due to face compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic today but has been replaced in the draw by Italian lucky loser Salvatore Caruso.
Mr Hawke’s decision on Friday was unexpectedly based not on the validity or otherwise of Djokovic’s exemption from Covid-19 vaccination, which was the reason for the initial cancellation, but on the notion his presence in the country could stoke antivaccination sentiment, making him a danger to public health, as well as civil unrest.