Novak Djokovic: Politicians criticize Prime Minister Morrison

Court ruling
Djokovic is allowed to stay – but Australian politicians criticize the case as a diversionary maneuver

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic spent four days in an Australian deportation hotel. Border officials had previously refused him entry because, according to their opinion, he could not present the necessary corona vaccination certificates. The 34-year-old then sued and has now surprisingly won the legal dispute. Judge Anthony Kelly ordered the immediate release of the world number one on Monday.

However, government attorney Christopher Tran said that Australia could still use its ministerial powers to order Djokovic’s exit. This means that the tennis player will no longer be allowed to enter the country for three years.

Rudd: If only a “diversionary maneuver”

Political reactions have already followed the judgment of the judges. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister and chairman of the opposition Labor Party, took this as an opportunity to criticize the current government’s corona policy. He spoke out sharply on Twitter to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Liberal Party). “Morrison has just lost the case against Djokovic. Total incompetence! As usual. If they had seriously not wanted him (Djokovic), why did they even give him the visa to fly here? That was a huge diversion (. ..) “from the tests, children’s vaccines and a lack of boosters.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens made a similar statement. On Twitter, she let it be known that Morrison’s incompetence was “staggering”. Independent MP Zali Steggall wrote: “The news tonight will again be dominated by Djokovic, instead of companies and communities struggling to stay afloat due to a lack of vaccinations, boosters and tests.”

The reporter and former CNN presenter Piers Morgan commented on the case by saying that the “Djokovic saga” was not about belief in the corona vaccination. Everyone should play by the same rules. “He (Djokovic) has the right not to be vaccinated and Australia has the right to kick him out if he makes a seedy visa application.”

The youngest brother of tennis player Djordje Djokovic called the court ruling a “great defeat for the government”. “You take it badly.” The case brought sleepless nights to the entire family, but Novak showed how resilient he is, how strong he believes in his ideals and that he is a great man. “He has this fight not just for himself, but for the whole world The whole case was political and the family is currently in talks with lawyers.

Djokovic is not an isolated case

The 34-year-old world number one, who had repeatedly expressed himself critical of corona vaccinations, traveled to Melbourne for the Australian Open on Wednesday after he said he had received an exemption from the organizers for entry without proof of vaccination. However, the Australian border guards did not recognize this and withdrew his visa. Djokovic was taken to a deportation hotel.

Djokovic’s lawyers had taken legal action against the visa cancellation. They argued that Djokovic’s application for a waiver was approved by two independent medical bodies. They cited a positive corona test of the Serbian player on December 16 as the reason for the approval.

Djokovic is not the first player to be denied entry to Australia. According to media reports, parliament has withdrawn visas from two other athletes – including the Czech Renata Voráčová. The name of the second affected player was not officially disclosed. Like Djokovic, the two comrades-in-arms had already entered Australia when their visas were revoked. Voráčová was also housed in the same accommodation as Djokovic. Three days ago, the Czech embassy wrote to the Australian government asking to explain Voráčová’s detention. An answer is still pending.

cl
DPA