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Novak Djokovic’s visa was cancelled for a second time today on the basis his presence could “excite anti-vaccination sentiment”.
- His legal team are appealing today’s decision.
- In just a few hours’ time he is scheduled to be interviewed by Australian immigration officials (at 8am Melbourne time).
- The proceedings have been transferred to Federal Court, and the full hearing will take place on Sunday morning, the day before the Australian Open begins.
If the decision by Alex Hawke, the immigration minister, to cancel the visa stands, that will of course prevent Djokovic from playing at the Australian Open, and also lead to him being put on a plane home at the earliest opportunity.
Novak Djokovic’s diary this weekend (courtesy of our reporter Paul Karp):
- 8am Saturday – interview with Border Force
- Then detention, including
- 10am-2pm at his lawyers offices on Saturday; then
- From 9am Sunday, also at his lawyers offices, this time for the hearing
Thanks for reading today and we’ll see you very soon for the latest instalment of the Djokovic saga. Here is the latest report:
Bye for now.
Updated
As we mentioned earlier, the opinion of the Australian public law expert Associate Professor Janina Boughey is that, if there have been no procedural errors, the discretionary powers of the minister means Djokovic’s appeal will fail.
In a video posted online by the University of New South Wales, Boughey explains that there are now fewer avenues of appeal for Djokovic:
Under the section that gives the minister personal discretion, there are fewer avenues of appeal so Mr Djokovic could not appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
All he could do is seek judicial review in the courts. And what the courts doing judicial review is determine whether the power has been exercised lawfully.
So, it would all depend on how the minister exercises the power and whether he does so in a manner which is lawful.
The discretion that the minister has is very broad, so realistically, unless the minister makes a procedural error, doesn’t comply with the terms of the Act, or unless the decision is ... really has no basis ... then Mr Djokovic is unlikely to succeed.
Updated
In case you missed it yesterday:
Novak Djokovic has been “playing by his own rules” and has put his bid for a 21st grand slam title at risk by not following Australia’s Covid-19 vaccination requirements, according to the world No 4, Stefanos Tsitsipas.
This is from a couple of days ago, and serves as a useful reminder of the timeline of events leading up to this week’s drama:
Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa has again been cancelled days before the start of the Australian Open on the basis his presence could “excite anti-vaccination sentiment”.
Updated
A reminder that one of the reasons stated for cancelling Djokovic’s visa today is that he could ‘excite anti-vax sentiment’ ... which, to a non-legal person like me, would seem to open the decision up to a challenge. But, again, if the minister has the power to do whatever they like, then Djokovic’s appeal will surely fail.
It certainly felt like there was an amount of straw-clutching going on by Djokovic’s legal team in that hearing, but it was enough to put the judge on the back foot, and visibly annoy him with the way it was all unfolding.
OMG Djokovic's lawyers have revealed the minister's reasons is that Djokovic could "excite anti-vax sentiment".
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) January 14, 2022
Is it possible the Australian govt has stuffed it up again?!
Djokovic to be interviewed by immigration officials tomorrow
So, after a brief adjournment, the parties agreed to clarify the orders so that Djokovic can be taken into detention after his interview tomorrow at 8am at a location of the parties’ choosing. This is to avoid a “media circus” at the Lonsdale St offices identified in the hearing.
Djokovic’s diary is:
- 8am Saturday – interview with Border Force
- Then detention, including
- 10am-2pm at his lawyers offices on Saturday; then
- From 9am Sunday, also at his lawyers offices, this time for the hearing
Via Reuters, various reactions to the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time. Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd reckons the timing, late afternoon/early evening on Friday in Australia, was to ‘win the weekend media cycle’.
Australian PM, Scott Morrison: “I note the Minister for Immigration’s decision in relation to Mr Novak Djokovic’s visa. 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. This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods.”
Former PM Kevin Rudd: “What a surprise! Morrison’s govt cancels Djokovic’s visa to win the weekend media cycle - showing us all how hairy chested he is. Why on earth did they issue the visa in the first place? One big political distraction from empty shelves & the national shortage of boosters & RATs.”
Andy Murray: “It’s unfortunate that it’s ended up in this sort of situation, and who knows? I don’t know what route he goes down, if he can appeal that and, you know, how long that takes, and can he still be out practicing whilst that process is going on or still competing in the tournament? Just want it to get resolved. I think it would be good for everyone if that was the case. It just seems like it’s dragged on for quite a long time now, and yeah, not great for the tennis, not great for the Australian Open, not great for Novak.”
Justine Henin: “I think it’s the best thing he doesn’t play at the moment. When something is so complicated, I don’t say that Djokovic doesn’t have to fight, because he thought it was the right thing to do, but I think now it’s been proved that so many Australian people don’t want him to play. “So maybe it’s better for everyone, for tennis, for the tournament, and maybe for him, that he doesn’t play the tournament.”
Darren Cahill, coach and former player: “Fault lies everywhere here. It’s been a mess. Novak, TA, Vic Gov, Federal Gov. It should’ve been a hard rule entering this country considering what the folks have been thru. Get vaccinated and come play the AO, or if not maybe see you in 23’. No wiggle room.”
Former player Janko Tipsarevic: “Toxic Shame on each and everyone involved in this process...”
Tennis fan Lou Ricciardi at Melbourne Park: “I do agree with what the government has done. Rules are rules. If you break the rules there are a lot of consequences. It’s unfortunate for the Open but ... the Open is bigger than just one man. The other players have got to just put up with what’s happened and hope there’s no distractions.
What more could Djokovic have done to avoid all this? Quite a bit, as it turns out, writes Paul Karp:
Updated
The hearing has now restarted ... the judge thanks those present for their efforts, and says he will publish his decision(s) tomorrow morning. And with that he says ‘adjourn the court’ – and that would appear to be it for the night.
Updated
Earlier in the hearing, Djokovic’s lawyers mentioned that he had a ‘medical contraindication’ with regard to vaccination. This (Paul Karp tells me) is legalese for the fact that Djokovic tested positive for Covid-19 last month.
Updated
Anyway, the court is due be back for more in a couple of minutes, but we are effectively no closer to a final resolution to the issue of Djokovic’s visa and his participation at the Australian Open. As stated below the judge has transferred the case to Federal Court, and Djokovic is due to attend an interview with immigration officials at 8am tomorrow. Which is only nine hours from now.
Updated
The hearing has just been adjourned for another five minutes. It’s now a few minutes before 11pm in Melbourne where the hearing is taking place. Judge Kelly looks frustrated and even angry with the direction – or directions – in which Djokovic’s lawyers are taking this hearing.
Updated
Proceedings transferred to Federal Court
The Judge Anthony Kelly has also ordered the proceedings to be transferred to the Federal Court, that’s a slight setback from Djokovic, whose lawyers had urged it to stay with this court (Federal Circuit), to speed things up.
Updated
Nicholas Wood, Djokovic’s counsel, has expressed concern about security and “a potential media circus” if Djokovic is taken into detention at his solicitors’ offices, a location identified now publicly in the hearing. Wood said: “I can’t see any practical disadvantage for him to be taken into detention at a location agreed between parties but not one announced to the world.”
Updated
Djokovic to attend interview with immigration officials tomorrow
The judge’s orders are as follows:
- Djokovic to serve as soon as is reasonably practical an originating application, an affidavit attaching Alex Hawke’s reasons and submissions for decision
- The minister will not take any step to remove Djokovic from Australia
- Djokovic will attend an interview at 8am Saturday with immigration officials, then will be supervised by Border Force officers from 10am to 2pm on Saturday at his solicitors’ offices
- Djokovic may continue in detention from 9am Sunday 16 January, at his solicitors’ offices
Updated
Judge Anthony Kelly is now reading a fairly lengthy statement on the way forward from here ... details to follow shortly.
The current state of play is that Novak Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled for a second time. Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, announced earlier that he cancelled the visa “on health and good order grounds, [and] on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.
A late-night (in Australia) hearing is ongoing, and has just restarted ...
The hearing remains adjourned. As soon as it restarts, we’ll bring you the details.
Elsewhere in tennis: Andy Murray has defeated American Reilly Opelka at the Sydney Tennis Classic to reach his first ATP Tour final for more than two years:
In “I am not a lawyer, but ...” news: It seems to me there is plenty of ambiguity and potential for legal argument in Alex Hawke’s statement regarding his reasons for cancelling Djokovic’s visa for a second time. But that said, if his ministerial powers allow him to make such a decision and legal procedure has been correctly followed in all other ways, then Djokovic’s lawyers seem destined to lose their second appeal, and he’ll be on the plane home. We shall see.
And here’s our video explainer on how this saga has unfolded:
Here is Paul Karp’s story from a little earlier on the immigration minister Alex Hawke’s decision to revoke the Serb’s visa for a second time:
Rather than the main court hearing on the key issue of Djokovic’s visa, the one taking place now is more procedural.
Our reporter Paul Karp explains what the current hearing (which must be bringing in record numbers to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia YouTube channel) is all about:
“It’s mainly just which court will hear it, timetabling, interim orders re: whether he’ll be in detention ... It sounds like main hearing will be Sunday.”
So we’ve got at least a couple more days of this to look forward to.
Updated
Thank you Mostafa and greetings, everyone. Novak Djokovic’s lawyers continue to fight this with the same stubbornness that the Serb brings to a baseline rally. Today’s hearing – taking place late on Friday evening in Australia, and now late morning in the UK – has been adjourned for now ... we’ll bring you updates as and when things resume.
The hearing is available to watch on YouTube here:
Updated
OK and with that, I will hand over the blog to Luke McLaughlin. Thanks for reading.
Updated
Djokovic: Gov has proposed the tennis No.1 be detained tomorrow at 8am, escorted by ABF officers to his lawyers' office tomorrow, and then taken back into detention on midday
— Maddison Connaughton (@madconnaughton) January 14, 2022
At an urgent court directions hearing on Friday evening, Novak Djokovic’s counsel Nicholas Wood confirmed that he is not in detention tonight and is due to attend an interview with immigration officials at 8am on Saturday.
The Australian government’s counsel, Stephen Lloyd, said the immigration minister proposed that Djokovic would be taken into detention at that time, taken to the offices of his solicitors for the hearing.
Updated
Court has been adjourned
And with that, the court has been adjourned after the parties made their submissions, and with a decision on the coming timeline still up in the air.
Judge Kelly is now saying that Covid has had a huge impact on the lives of people in Australia and around the world (in terms of health, economics, mental health), and the vaccination rule is an issue of policy. This could indicate it may be better for Federal Court to hear case
— Sarah Danckert (@sdanck) January 14, 2022
Wowee, Djokovic's lawyer seems to be saying the minister's main reason for deporting him is that it will excite the anti-vaxxer community, based in part on the tennis star's past comments.
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) January 14, 2022
Djokovic ejected for risk of 'exciting anti-vax sentiment', lawyer says
Novak Djokovic’s lawyer Nicholas Wood says he doesn’t anticipate cross-examination or subpoenas, and he anticipates narrow grounds of appeal.
Wood says the immigration minister Alex Hawke’s reasons stand in “stark contrast” to the ones used by the Australian Border Force delegate.
He says:
The delegate said Mr Djokovic may infect other people because he’s unvaccinated. The present set of reasons is starkly different. The minister assumes in Mr Djokovic’s favour every single fact that might have been in issue previously, that he’s complied with the law, that he poses only a negligible risk to others, Mr Djokovic has a medical reason not to be vaccinated, and that Mr Djokovic is of good standing.
Wood says the central thrust of the case is that Hawke had a “binary” decision: that Djokovic could stay in Melbourne leading to potential “excitement” in the anti-vax community; versus the forceable removal of a man of good standing who has a medical contraindication.
Wood says there is a “clear jurisdictional error” of “irrationality” in that the ground of “exciting anti-vax sentiment” is premised on Djokovic only having that impact if he remains in Australia.
“He has no rational basis to say” Djokovic staying would cause more anti-vax sentiment, Wood submits.
Updated
Djokovic's lawyers propose Sunday hearing
Nicholas Wood has proposed he will make submissions by midday Saturday, with the minister’s to follow by 10pm tomorrow, ready for a hearing on Sunday.
Wood says:
Mr Djokovic may be scheduled to play on Monday night or Tuesday night ... In those circumstances we’re very concerned about time.
Wood is blaming the government for giving the decision “shortly after 6pm on a Friday”, four days after the federal circuit court decision and more than a week after the original decision. He’s laying into media reporting that the immigration minister, Alex Hawke, was “burdened” by lengthy submissions from Djokovic.
Wood reveals Djokovic’s material included scholarly articles about natural immunity, and reveals that Hawke’s decision said he hadn’t read them! Well this is going swimmingly.
Updated
ND is worried that the proposal for ND to be interviewed at 8am tomorrow may interfere with legal preparations. Seeks undertaking to have ND located with the lawyers tomorrow.
— Jeremy Gans (@jeremy_gans) January 14, 2022
Djokovic is not in detention, lawyer says
Nicholas Wood has confirmed that his client, Novak Djokovic, has not been taken back into detention.
He says an Australian Government Solicitor lawyer has advised “it is not proposed to re-detain my client tonight”.
Djokovic’s interview tomorrow is at 8am.
Updated
Every minute is precious, Djokovic's lawyer says
Nicholas Wood is explaining why Novak Djokovic is in such a hurry – “every minute before the tournament commences on Monday” is “precious”.
Wood is suggesting that Judge Anthony Kelly could retain the matter in the federal circuit court to prevent the loss of time to transfer it to the federal court.
Wood argues that there is no issue of Kelly having apprehended bias, despite having heard the earlier case, because the second visa cancellation is an “entirely separate process” to the first.
Updated
Nicholas Wood SC, on behalf of Novak Djokovic, has just asked the court for an injunction preventing his removal.
He undertakes to file a written application as soon as practical – suggesting he will be able to do so by 10.15pm tonight! Much sooner than the 4pm tomorrow the judge offered.
So the suggestions that Djokovic’s lawyers are ready to go seems to be borne out.
Updated
Judge Anthony Kelly notes the last time this case was run, the parties were able to agree to preserve the status quo, and the same might be required again tonight.
Kelly says this could include a brief interim injunction to 4pm Saturday 15 January preventing Djokovic being deported. Kelly notes that Novak Djokovic has been invited to an interview on Saturday.
Updated
Judge Anthony Kelly is noting the possibility the case will have to be transferred from the federal circuit court to the federal court.
Kelly says:
While I have what it seems is an unappealable power to transfer this matter to another court, it is qualified by the requirement ... that the federal court of Australia confirms the order I make.
Kelly says this ought to be decided now, and directions would be taken up by the federal court.
Oh great, so we’re here for a preliminary discussion of which court is going to hear this, before it moves to a docket of another judge, before we get directions. The entree to the entree.
Updated
The hearing has started.
Judge Anthony Kelly starts by noting that the government’s counsel, Christopher Tran, had informed the court on Monday that the immigration minister, Alex Hawke, was considering cancelling Djokovic’s visa.
There’s a bit of housekeeping about how the court can get the facts in front of it when no originating application has been made.
Kelly makes a number of observations:
- In an urgent circumstance if it is necessary a party can make an application before the formal process starting the court case.
- The court may be prepared to accept an undertaking from parties to file and serve an affidavit which exhibits material documents at soonest opportunity.
Kelly is outlining the documents he has: the immigration minister Alex Hawke’s decision cancelling Djokovic’s visa; and a government submission. There’s also a document titled “sensitivities” that the judge won’t read. We want him to read it.
Updated
Judge Anthony Kelly has opened by going through the history of proceedings leading up to this point.
Hearing has begun
We will continue to bring updates from the Federal Circuit Court.
The hearing appears to be delayed, but it is interesting to see that over 12,000 people have tuned in to the live feed. Clearly some interest in the outcome.
If Novak Djokovic does not compete in the #AusOpen, there would be no champions from the previous 12 editions of the tournament in the men’s draw.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 14, 2022
Rafael Nadal (2009) would be the lone past winner in the field.
Have just spoken to Prof Jack Anderson, professor and director of sports law at the University of Melbourne, who has explained what we are likely to see in the next few minutes.
“A directions hearing is about getting the formalities sorted for a further hearing,” he says.
Djokovic’s lawyers will be pushing for an expedited hearing – saying that they can put in short written submissions and get this done quickly ... High stakes!
Updated
As we wait for the hearing, I’d recommend this searing analysis on the situation from Paul Karp as essential reading:
Novak Djokovic v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs: A directions hearing will be conducted tonight at 8.45pm (AEDT) before Judge Anthony Kelly. The hearing will be streamed on our YouTube channel - https://t.co/OArWL6GnGy pic.twitter.com/qMBDqGccIl
— Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (@FCFCOA) January 14, 2022
Hearing in federal circuit court set for 8.45pm
And in breaking news, a directions hearing will be conducted tonight at 8.45pm before judge Anthony Kelly in the federal circuit court.
Updated
Andy Murray spoke about Novak Djokovic after his win over Reilly Opelka today. The news broke during his match.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 14, 2022
"I'm not going to sit here and start kicking Novak whilst he's down. I mean, I said it the other day, it's not a good situation for anyone." pic.twitter.com/fXUhehwNoS
Australian public law expert Assoc Prof Janina Boughey says the decision by immigration minister Alex Hawke will very likely stand up to any appeal, due to the wide powers the minister has.
In a video posted online by the University of New South Wales, Boughey explains that there are now fewer avenues of appeal for Djokovic:
Under the section that gives the minister personal discretion, there are fewer avenues of appeal so Mr Djokovic could not appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
All he could do is seek judicial review in the courts. And what the courts doing judicial review is determine whether the power has been exercised lawfully.
So, it would all depend on how the minister exercises the power and whether he does so in a manner which is lawful.
The discretion that the minister has is very broad, so realistically, unless the minister makes a procedural error, doesn’t comply with the terms of the Act, or unless the decision is ... really has no basis ... then Mr Djokovic is unlikely to succeed.
Updated
Novak Djokovic will not be removed from the Australian Open draw until it is certain that he is unable to compete at the tournament. Should he be deported, the Australian Open draw would face a minor reshuffle.
Andrey Rublev, the fifth seed, would move into Djokovic’s place at the top of the draw, Gael Monfils, the 17th seed, would take Rublev’s spot and there would be a new 33rd seed, Alexander Bublik, who would take Monfils’ previous spot. A lucky loser, one of the defeated players in the final round of qualifying, would be added to the draw.
It is not a dramatic change and top players do occasionally withdraw from major tournaments after the draw is made. However, all of these players, plus Djokovic’s scheduled first round opponent Miomir Kecmanovic, are affected as they will not be certain about their first round opponent until this is resolved.
So what are Djokovic’s chances of challenging Hawke’s decision successfully? Well, he’s got the right to go to court and seek judicial review of the decision, but it’s going to be harder this time around. This is the case for two reasons.
— Sangeetha Pillai (@sangpillai) January 14, 2022
First, because he made a decision under s 133C(3), Hawke doesn’t need to give notice of his intention to cancel Djokovic’s visa. This reduces the risk of him making a fatal procedural error, like the original ABF officer did. Basically, Hawke is more likely to be on solid ground.
— Sangeetha Pillai (@sangpillai) January 14, 2022
Secondly, the rules of natural justice do not apply to decisions made under s 133C(3). This means that while Djokovic still has the right to challenge Hawke’s decision, he can only do so on narrower grounds. Specifically, his scope to argue that the decision is unfair is reduced.
— Sangeetha Pillai (@sangpillai) January 14, 2022
Immigration officials to interview Djokovic tomorrow
I can confirm that arrangements have been made for Djokovic to attend an interview with immigration officials tomorrow
Updated
The Australian Lawyers Alliance has released a statement saying that the government’s decision highlights Australia’s “arbitrary and unfair border policies”.
Greg Barns SC, spokesperson for the alliance, said the decision demonstrated how political decisions about borders and migration are in Australia.
The broad discretion given to the Minister means that political considerations drive decisions that can seriously impact people’s lives. It is astonishing that we have allowed one person to have this level of unchecked control and extraordinary power.
The powers given to the Immigration Minister and our border officials have been increasing over time with no corresponding increase in transparency or accountability. In many cases, there are no rights to appeal the Minister’s decision or any meaningful scrutiny of these decisions.
Most people don’t have the resources that Djokovic has to engage legal teams to defend them.
This government’s obsession with harsh border policies combined with its arbitrary approach to visa cancellation and detention has created a debacle this week but, more importantly, has destroyed the lives of thousands of people for many years.
Updated
Djokovic been asked to present himself for an interview with immigration officials tomorrow
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 14, 2022
Govt currently talking with his lawyers, per @Gallo_Ways
He will be staying out of detention until the interview and pending any legal action @theage https://t.co/Q8IUDnMhLG
Timeline of Djokovic visa decision:
— Andrew Brown (@AndrewBrownAU) January 14, 2022
5.35pm: Djokovic's legal term verbally told of decision
5.52pm: Statement from Alex Hawke's office on visa cancellation
6.03pm: Legal team given decision in writing
(Periodic and important reminder that Djokovic could have avoided all this rigamarole by simply getting vaccinated like 97%+ of his tennis player peers have.)
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 14, 2022
And if you’d like to watch an explainer as a refresher on the week-long drama, you can watch the video at the link below:
And we’re hearing reports that a black Mercedes van has pulled up to Djokvic’s lawyers’ office in Melbourne.
The van, with tinted windows, drove into the office car park around 6.30pm.
The van reportedly left about five minutes later with a passenger, although it is unclear if Djokovic is the passenger.
Updated
PM says decision is to 'protect sacrifices of Australians'
Prime minister Scott Morrison has spoken out on the decision, backing his immigration minister and saying it was done to “protect” the sacrifices Australians have made during the pandemic:
I note the Minister for Immigration’s decision in relation to Mr Novak Djokovic’s visa.
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.
This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods.
Together we have achieved one of the lowest death rates, strongest economies and highest vaccination rates, in the world.
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.
Due to the expected ongoing legal proceedings, I will be not be providing any further comment.
Updated
Vic Gov on #Djokovic "This visa issue remains between the Federal Government and Novak Djokovic,whose team has reportedly indicated the intention to take further legal action in the federal court system. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment at this stage.” @10NewsFirst
— Simon Love (@SimoLove) January 14, 2022
Djokovic's lawyers are still considering their legal options
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 14, 2022
They were served documents at 6.03pm, after Hawke's decision
If they appeal, they want a streamlined trial with condensed time for written submissions and verbal evidence
They want trial completed by Sunday @theage https://t.co/Q8IUDnMhLG
Federal Circuit Court of Australia yet to receive any papers, any action filed or legal action from #Djokovic team on @AlexHawkeMP decision. But things could change quickly. @10NewsFirstMelb @10NewsFirst
— Simon Love (@SimoLove) January 14, 2022
The former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration, Abul Rizvi, was on the ABC earlier, outlining what he thinks will happen next, including the return of Djokovic to detention:
What that means now is that Novak Djokovic must be taken into detention. I assume he’ll go back to the same detention hotel that he was at previously. I assume his lawyers will now seek judicial review of that decision. And, the court will need to consider whatever application Mr Djokovic’s lawyers make.
I assume the applications will be for Novak Djokovic to be released in some way, probably directing the minister to release Mr Djokovic on a bridging visa to allow him to play in the Australian Open. The judge would consider that and make a decision
The message to Novak Djokovic is to go quietly.
— David Crowe (@CroweDM) January 14, 2022
He can drag it out but the government wants him to know that a Section 133C(3) decision means he cannot get a visa for three years.
But he *might* get one in future years on compassionate grounds.https://t.co/XfWqe1uaxH
Djokovic never should have gotten a visa in the first place
— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) January 14, 2022
This embarrassing and farcical incident could have been avoided
Mr Morrison and his Ministers always act too little, too late https://t.co/m4aFhx7Y1x
Djokovic likely to appeal
Further on what happens now, there are multiple reports that Djokovic’s legal team has indicated it will immediately take the decision to court.
It is understood the tennis star’s lawyers would seek to have a potential case fast-tracked by minimising the length of their submissions.
They’d also be hoping to have the case heard over the weekend and finalised soon, allowing him to take part in the Australian Open early next week.
Updated
Djokovic visa cancelled on the grounds of “public interest” relating to “health” and “good order”.
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) January 14, 2022
1. With covid cases in the hundreds of thousands, how can it be “health”?
2. How can one person whose job is hitting a ball with a racquet be a threat to civic “order”?
What a surprise! Morrison’s govt cancels #Djokovic’s visa to win the weekend media cycle—showing us all how hairy chested he is. Why on earth did they issue the visa in the first place? One big political distraction from empty shelves & the national shortage of boosters & RATs. https://t.co/SoHuI1Cfwe
— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) January 14, 2022
The decision has also thrown the Australian Open draw into chaos, with Djokovic drawn as the top seed earlier this week.
Djokovic was eyeing a record 10th Australian Open and the men’s record for most grand slams at the upcoming tournament – all hopes that have been dashed.
According to the Grand Slam’s rule book, Djokovic’s withdrawal after the completion of the draw means his slot in the draw will go to No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev.
It is unclear as of yet how Tennis Australia will react themselves though.

Updated
So, what does that mean now?
Firstly, it means Djokovic, the No 1 men’s tennis player in the world, is banned from Australia for three years.
The cancellation issued by Hawke is classified as an adverse decision under section 133C(3), which means Djokovic cannot be granted another visa while offshore for the three years.
There are exceptions granted in “certain circumstances,” and the Serbian star is sure to appeal the decision, so that may come into play in the coming days.
Updated
At 5.52pm on a Friday, the Australian government has cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa 🎾
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) January 14, 2022
Australia's immigration minister cancels Novak Djokovic's visa again
The Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has re-cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa.
We begin with Hawke’s statement, saying he “carefully considered” information provided to him:
Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.
This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.
In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.
The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I thank the officers of the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force who work every day to serve Australia’s interests in increasingly challenging operational environments.
#BREAKING The Government will cancel the visa of @DjokerNole says Immigration Minister @AlexHawkeMP #AusOpen #auspol pic.twitter.com/8kMpQ4bmLy
— Political Alert (@political_alert) January 14, 2022
Updated
The Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has again cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa.
Djokovic’s visa was first cancelled by a delegate of the home affairs minister last Thursday, on the basis a recent Covid infection by itself was not sufficient for an exemption from vaccination requirements and, since he was unvaccinated, Djokovic could pose a risk to public health.
The visa was restored by a federal circuit court judge ruling in Djokovic’s favour on Monday, but government lawyers immediately put the world No 1 on notice that Hawke could still exercise a personal power to re-cancel the visa.
On Wednesday, Djokovic conceded his agent made an “administrative mistake” when declaring he had not travelled in the two weeks before his flight to Australia and acknowledged an “error of judgment” by not isolating after he tested positive for Covid on 16 December.
Hawke’s decision, announced on Friday evening, indicates the minister is satisfied cancellation was in the public interest.