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!

It’s an absolute stuff up, but not necessarily a case of the government changing their mind because of the backlash. Essentially, he got an exemption to play via the process put in place via Tennis Australia. Victoria were very clear that they didn’t want Djokovic to play if he wasn’t vaccinated ( but noted there was a medical exemption process). He got the medical exemption to play. However, the grounds that he got a medical exemption to play for are not grounds for entry into the country unvaccinated for non residents and it seems this has been made clear to Tennis Australia who may not have passed it onto Djokovic. It’s not a case that the backlash prompted the border refusal - it was always known the backlash would be fierce if he got an exemption. There is definitely political grandstanding going on though.

I don’t think he should be able to play - but I also don’t think he’s been treated very well or given the correct information about where he stands before boarding his flight or making decisions about his plans late last year.

@Flyonawalk

Team Novak.

Australia have treated their citizens badly. The strict lockdowns were bound to be futile in terms of keeping covid out.

The strict lockdowns were to give everyone time to get vaccinated. The government haven’t treated us badly. Do you live here in Australia? Have you been personally affected by our lockdowns and rules?

Yep, Australia. It's not for him (or us in the UK) to decide that they are going about things the wrong way. To let him in would be like a slap in the face for Australians.

@Riverlee

Novak wasn’t the only one who was initially granted medical exemption. According to this article, a few other people were also granted exemption by the tennis organisation.

Therefore, Novak was actually permitted to enter the country legally, and it was when he arrived, that he was refused entry. The whole situation has been handled badly.

Novak article

Tennis Australia isn’t a visa-granting authority.

He was given an exemption to play in the tournament by the tournament organisers, and entry into Victoria as part of that.

Entry into the country is a Commonwealth matter. Just like anyone else, if you don’t have the paperwork at the border that is in line with the visa you’ve been granted, including test evidence, proof of exemption, for some visas proof of funds etc etc, you’ll be turned around.

Team Australia. Thinking you can get around a nations entry requirements for something as vacuous as a tennis tournament is laughable on so many levels. What a bellend.

** Australia have their entry rules. He doesn’t meet them therefore he can’t enter.

The rules can’t differ just because of who he is**

^This. Novak is a loon

@Roselilly36

I am against the mandate, I don’t think any country should impose such rules. But to give him an exemption and then rescind it ONCE he has arrived, is wrong. If he didn’t qualify don’t give him the exemption, simple. Once again another u turn, when the people won’t stand for it, and I don’t blame the people for that, Australian Gov have been brutal.

The exemption was given by Tenis Australia when medical certificates were presented stating that Djokovic had Covid in the last six month and were exempt from the vaccine.

Unfortunately Tenis Australia can only look at the legality of the medical exception as they are a panel of medical experts which have nothing to do with whether the visa complies with Federal Australian rules of entry into the country.

Apparently, and I say apparently as I haven't seen the emails, Border Force sent emails weeks ago to Tenis Australia warning them that if Djokovic were not double vaccinated, the medical exception will not be accepted.

Whether you, me or anyone else want to or not, the legal rules of entry into a country trump over everything else. It happends thousands of times every week in every airport in the world. Djokovic has just found that out.

Fortunately for him he has the money and the legal team to challenge in the Federal Court the cancelling of his visa.

Team Australia. Disgraceful display of exceptionalism by Novax.

Difficult because I’m anti compulsory vaccines but the arrogance of Djokovic with his fake exemption- glad he got taken down a peg

I agree that you have to abide by the rules of the country you are wishing to enter, however-

It wasn't a problem for Australia a week ago when he got the required visa. It's only a problem now because of the (understandable) anger towards the extreme rules there have been in place for the last couple of years preventing many of their own citizens from returning. I think there is much more to it than the fact that he has not been vaccinated.

Wasn't there something said about the wrong visa?

I assumed he had been granted an exemption based on the visa applied for, but that visa was the wrong one and he didn't qualify for exemption based on what he actually needed, so therefore didn't have the correct visa to enter the country?

Just imagining Cockovic (can't stand the man) in the detention hotel...... that's made my day 😊

Team Australia. Fuck that guy, what a disgrace

@JassyRadlett

Reading your post, I think I’ve made the mistake many people people are making. So he was permitted to enter Victoria and the tennis tournament, but not Australia, the country, as such.

The fault is either the Australian tennis organisation, or Novak’s management team, for not getting the correct to information, which has led to this situation occurring.

@Riverlee

Novak wasn’t the only one who was initially granted medical exemption. According to this article, a few other people were also granted exemption by the tennis organisation.

Therefore, Novak was actually permitted to enter the country legally, and it was when he arrived, that he was refused entry. The whole situation has been handled badly.

Novak article

Last time I checked Tennis Australia doesn't police the country's borders. They granted him an exemption to play in the tournament. This is not the same as approving his visa. The Australian government were clear that he would have to provide the required documentation as evidence of a medical exemption at the border in order to enter on his visa. This is the same as any other foreigner entering Australia.

The political reality is that Australia has imposed strong restriction on the people including these rules about vaccinations for people entering the country. These have been incredibly disruptive for many ordinary Australians and so they are quite understandably anger that there was a suggestion these rules would be bent for a rich tennis player. Scott Morrison is faced with a significant loss of legitimacy if he lets Djokovic in by bending the rules which could result in mass non-compliance with any health measure. This is a real threat to how a country can deal with the pandemic, just look at what is happening in England where the Government knows it lacks the legitimacy to get people to comply with any imposition of stricter rules which is why it is just letting the virus do its thing. One only has to go to the local shop to see a huge number of people refusing to comply with existing rules on masks, totally unchallenged, to know this.

With Australia on this one.

Team Oz
Who does he think he is.?

Australia

Tired of arrogant white male privilege

The only reason he is detained now is because he was vocal about his view on mandatory vaccination. They don't want someone famous and popular expressing their view that are against their government line.

Neither of them. Australia shouldn’t have given him the visa / medical exemption in the first place. I think they are posturing now because of the bad press.

@profpoopsnagle

I agree that you have to abide by the rules of the country you are wishing to enter, however-

It wasn't a problem for Australia a week ago when he got the required visa. It's only a problem now because of the (understandable) anger towards the extreme rules there have been in place for the last couple of years preventing many of their own citizens from returning. I think there is much more to it than the fact that he has not been vaccinated.

He applied for the wrong federal entry visa. He applied for a visa that doesn’t cover tennis players. It is generally possible - irrespective of the country - to occasionally be granted the wrong visa, and it to be your fault. The fault lies with whoever handles his travel arrangements.

It’s normal when passing through passport control to be asked some questions about your visa/reason for travel and to be refused entry if your paperwork isn’t in order. In this case it was picked up just before he landed.

I very much hope that he will be unable to play in any country in the future. Entitled arse, along with his family.

@user1471447924

Absolutely Team Australia, and New Zealand would do well to follow their example of not bending the tiles for people just because they’re famous, while their own citizens, who are fully vaccinated, still can’t enter.

That doesn't even make sense.

NZ isn't "bending any rules". A certain number of visas are allocated for certain sectors, same as Australia.

The Novak decision is nothing to do with bending or not bending roles, it's just about being vaxxed, same situation in NZ.

@Exhausteddog

I think they are both unreasonable. Australian rules seem incredibly harsh and unreasonable. However he is unreasonable to think they don't apply to him.

This. Letting him in to play tennis when people have been denied entry to Australia for funerals, families remain separated etc, isn’t cool. And I love tennis.

@RampantIvy

Novax is being unreasonable

I love the way his name can be changed to this ^^
If he is being vociferous about vaccines he has to expect the consequences.

Novak Novax Novisa