Who is being U, Australia or Novak Djokovic?

[inheritancetrack]

Me, I'm in the you can't have your cake and eat it Novak, camp!

Sounds like he got off on a technicality but that his application for exemption should not have been accepted as he did not have a valid reason for it at the time of application
He then conveniently got a positive covid test after exemption granted

@Sirzy

If France have said that it’s awful. My triple vaccinated partner can’t visit his mum there but he can go and play?

www.si.com/.amp/tennis/2022/01/07/novak-djokovic-allowed-french-open-france-sports-minister-australian-open-medical-exemption

Not saying it will happen but this is an example of what was reported last week

The govt lawyers conceded... Judge didn't even have to rule. That's how flimsy Aus govt case was.

Only matters if you believe in Rule of Law, of course.

@MaxNormal

He's certainly been a handy scapegoat, and the wave of spite in response has dutifully been supplied.

Do you mean spite from the Australian authorities or spite on these threads?

There are many reasons why he is already quite unpopular. His behaviour during the pandemic, his behaviour on court, the arrogance and lack of humility he seems to possess. Compare him to Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal and he comes across in lacking any good sense or class. Although the behaviour of his parents perhaps sheds some light on why.

If he did test positive on 16th December and then attended an event in the following days, that truly is disgusting at this point in time. Again, another example of his arrogance.

He is giving a lot of support to ridiculous anti-vaxx idiots and I have no time for anti-vaxxers. I'm not surprised people express their negative opinions on him.

And anti-vaxxers in general are absolute spoiled idiots- happy to accept the protection of herd immunity from everyone else who does have sense, goes with science and gets vaccinated. I wish anti-vaxxers could travel back in time and see what a world without vaccines actually looked like. We are so so lucky to have vaccines.

Rich man gets off on a technicality. No surprise there. The fact that the immigration officials came to a decision faster than they initially indicated to Djokovic may convince a judge on grounds of unreasonableness in following procedure but it says nothing about whether his grounds for an exemption were justified.

The immigration minister now has the discretionary power to have Djokovic's visa cancelled and have him removed. Be interesting to see if that power is exercised.

I don’t think Australia is wrong to refuse him entry but they do seem to have mucked things up in terms of initially indicating he could have an exemption. Given how tough the restrictions have been and that many people have been unable to travel into the country to see dying relatives, I don’t see how they can justify letting him play. Many people would be outraged and rightly so.

Team Oz.

Requiring certain vaccines to enter countries isn't a new thing.

All this shows is that the Australian government wanted to have their cake and eat it.

Happy to quietly give exemptions to let in unvaccinated Australian Open players, but at the same time fronting the public ‘strong borders’ message. I’m sure they just hoped any public outrage would only ignite AFTER the unvaccinated players arrived (see the Czech player). Unfortunately for Scomo it didn’t happen as planned….

Most governments around the world operate like this - lots of flexible back door options for questionable individuals who will bring wealth / economic advantage to their country, whilst hoping no-one will get too cross….

Just caught up on the latest. It seems he may have got his way after all. It makes a mockery of the restrictions the Australians have had to live under and I would be furious if I were them. It will be interesting to see the kind of reception he gets on court however I expect it won’t make an iota of difference to his game. He’s arrogant in the extreme and likely won’t give a shit.

@lljkk

The govt lawyers conceded... Judge didn't even have to rule. That's how flimsy Aus govt case was.

Only matters if you believe in Rule of Law, of course.

Or it's the Aus gov way or drawing a line under round 1 and then cancel the visa on another ground ready for round 2 - this time ensuring procedural fairness so no room for doubt.

I really hope he doesn't win the Australian Open. His behaviour in attending events after testing positive for covid, breaking the law and being a superspreader, are reprehensible. The Australians have messed this up completely but ND is a disgrace, imo, in light of the confirmation regarding covid.

Apparently they are delaying the decision on whether to cancel his visa. I wonder if it's to see what the backlash is before deciding.

There's reports going around saying he's been arrested. Not sure if it's true or not.

I like Andy Murray's swipe at Nigel Farage. Very pointed and very accurate.

It would be rather extraordinary to cancel his visa based on what has happened and who he is. He’s just a tennis player after all and is doing the Australian open ( and Tennis Australia) as big a favour by appearing as they are doing for him by letting him play.
Surely visa cancellations should be reserved for serious criminals or terrorists not tennis players that don’t have covid and have followed the rules to gain said visa (as confirmed by a judge) and are not a risk to the Australian people.
It’s all so bonkers!

The judge was so obviously biased it was a joke. Guessing he’s a fan.

I’ve seen rumours that he’s about to withdraw from the open, because if his visa is actually cancelled he will be unable to return to Aus for the next 3 years, so that would put him out of any future competitions really.

cancel the visa on another ground ready for round 2 - this time ensuring procedural fairness so no room for doubt.

So,.,.. they can make up special rules for Djokovic. The "Our minister can exclude anyone's visa on a whim so we will" rule. That's "fairness" is it? Sure, whatevs.

From what I've read, the judge ruled on a procedural issue.

I think he should withdraw. This circus will continue during the tournament if he plays. I also think his parents should back off. Apparently they are going to do a press conference. I get they are his biggest supporters but I think they are making it worse. Talk about ND being like Jesus and crucifixion - it's all too much. I doubt they'll mention him breaking Serbian covid laws (but you never know, they might) but I'd love to see them try justify that.

Any further government action against him will be pure grandstanding petulance-- so that's what I'm expecting.

If he doesn't get to compete, Australia should lose the right to host it. "Open," indeed.

I am completely pro vax and not a fan in any way of Djokovic but I think the Aus govt have behaved appallingly. We now know he had valid medical exemption that fulfilled the criteria required. The judge quite obviously could do nothing but release him - if he hadn’t it would make a complete mockery of the Rule of Law in Oz (though they govt have already happily made an absolute mockery of themselves). My hope is that Djokovic may use this experience to do some good and maybe campaign for better treatment of the refugees he was held with….you can but hope!!

Have to agree Planktons. Australia should lose the right to host the open in the future if they cancel his visa now.
At the very least Melbourne should.
We could host it here in the U.K.! I know we have Wimbledon already but we have other venues. Problem is the weather at this time of year of course but it could be under cover.

@Blinkingbatshit

I am completely pro vax and not a fan in any way of Djokovic but I think the Aus govt have behaved appallingly. We now know he had valid medical exemption that fulfilled the criteria required. The judge quite obviously could do nothing but release him - if he hadn’t it would make a complete mockery of the Rule of Law in Oz (though they govt have already happily made an absolute mockery of themselves). My hope is that Djokovic may use this experience to do some good and maybe campaign for better treatment of the refugees he was held with….you can but hope!!

Did he? Is that the upshot of all this?

@Blinkingbatshit

I am completely pro vax and not a fan in any way of Djokovic but I think the Aus govt have behaved appallingly. We now know he had valid medical exemption that fulfilled the criteria required. The judge quite obviously could do nothing but release him - if he hadn’t it would make a complete mockery of the Rule of Law in Oz (though they govt have already happily made an absolute mockery of themselves). My hope is that Djokovic may use this experience to do some good and maybe campaign for better treatment of the refugees he was held with….you can but hope!!

I thought he had to submit his medical exemption by 10th December. He couldn't do that if he only got confirmation of a positive covid test on 16th. I don't see how he fulfilled the exemption criteria.

@sashagabadon

Have to agree Planktons. Australia should lose the right to host the open in the future if they cancel his visa now. At the very least Melbourne should. We could host it here in the U.K.! I know we have Wimbledon already but we have other venues. Problem is the weather at this time of year of course but it could be under cover.

It is the Australian Open. It's been going (in Australia!) since 1905. You can hardly 'lose the right' to hold your own tournament.

I didn't think he did, as thought the 'previous covid infection' rule only applied to Aus citizens. In any case, he appears to have had his crystal ball out when applying for the visa, and then when he did conveniently test positive, completely flouted all the rules and went out trying to spread it to all and sundry. And if he didn't actually have covid then he's lying about testing positive. 🤷

I thought he had to submit his medical exemption by 10th December. He couldn't do that if he only got confirmation of a positive covid test on 16th. I don't see how he fulfilled the exemption criteria.

I don't see what his plan was if he hadn't conveniently got infected (but not ill) so close to the travel date/tournament.

@dollybird

I didn't think he did, as thought the 'previous covid infection' rule only applied to Aus citizens. In any case, he appears to have had his crystal ball out when applying for the visa, and then when he did conveniently test positive, completely flouted all the rules and went out trying to spread it to all and sundry. And if he didn't actually have covid then he's lying about testing positive. 🤷

Yes, it's all a bit suspicious, isn't it?!