Novak Djokovic: Judge orders immediate release of tennis star

21 comments
  1. Sky News are reporting that whilst ND hasn’t broken any of the rules that he was asked to abide by in order to enter Australia, the immigration minister still has emergency powers to cancel his visa. I doubt that would happen at this stage as it would come across extremely petty on behalf of the Australian government.

    Sadly this is already emboldening anitvaxxers with [Nigel Farage tweeting his support for ND](https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1480431595425312769).

    With an election coming up in Australia in 2022, will the government take a similar hardline stance against antivaxxers that we have seen in other European countries? Only time will tell.

  2. Some interesting confirmations from the court case, in particular ND’s statement to the border guards:

    >Now that the ruling has been announced, a number of documents related to the case have been released including part of the tennis star’s interview with border force.
    >
    >In this interview, Djokovic announces that he has not been vaccinated.
    >
    >Interviewer: “What are your reasons for travelling to Australia today?”
    >
    >Djokovic: “I’m a professional tennis player and the main reason for me coming to Australia is participating in the Australian Open in Melbourne.”
    >
    >Interviewer: “Now question regarding your vaccination – are you vaccinated?”
    >
    Djokovic: “I am not vaccinated.”
    >
    >He then tells the interviewer that he has tested positive for Covid twice – in June 2020 and on 16 December 2021.

    From [this live reporting page](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-australia-59909477).

  3. So let me get this straight. Normal people who follow all the rules, including Australian citizens, are put through a whole shit show and cannot leave or enter the country. Vaccines are required for everything.

    But when a super rich, arrogant prick like him pulls a stunt like that a judge will just let him in? If the Australians just swallow that I don’t know anymore.

  4. >But Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could still cancel his visa on new grounds.

    If the Australian public aren’t happy with the judge’s verdict then I wouldn’t be surprised if this happens.

  5. Thanks, Australia for creating an anti-vax douchebag martyr! This is the last thing we needed! Now the internet is full of happy anti-vaxxers.

  6. This is very disappointing, and as an Australian confirms that wealth and fame provide exemptions from the laws and restrictions the rest of us must abide by.

  7. Good, I am not happy that the precedent has been set by an influential/rich person. But I am happy this ruling has been made, arbitrary travel restrictions, at this point in the “pandemic” are ridiculous and serve no purpose. People should be angry at the Aus goverment for implementing ridiculous rules rather than the fact that Djokovic was allowed in.

  8. They presented him with rules. He followed all of them

    And then arrested him and told him everything is his fault.

    He is the least to blame here. The Organization gave him instructions that he followed religiously.
    It was just that the organization gave instructions they werent allowed to give.

    I would also stay and sue in these circumstances.

  9. Correct decision.

    Its the Aus government that need to pay price for catastrophic response to covid.

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