Djokovic Wins Court Battle To Stay In Australia, But Government May Cancel His Visa A Second Time

On Monday, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic won a court battle to stay in Australia to compete in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated against Covid-19. However, the Australian government has threatened to cancel the tennis star’s visa a second time. 

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic’s visa after it was cancelled following his arrival in the county last week. Judge Kelly also ordered the government to release the tennis player from a Melbourne quarantine hotel where he had spent the past four nights. Officials had previously decided that Djokovic did not meet the criteria for an exemption to an entry requirement that all non-citizens must be fully vaccinated against the virus.

However, following the ruling by Judge Kelly, government lawyer Christopher Tran said that the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, will consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation. As such, Djokovic’s visa could be cancelled for a second time and the tennis star could again face deportation ahead of the Australian Open, set to commence January 17.