Novak’s deportation is extraordinary, but so is the time we live in

Novak Djokovic has made world headlines this time in Australia in a different type of court.

The world no.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic landed in Australia on 6 January to find that the visa based on the medical exemption granted by the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel appointed by the Victorian government, has been revoked by the Australian Border Force.

Australian Open Chief Craig Tiley shared that over 26 players and support staff had asked for medical exemption on various grounds, out of which only few were granted. Indian rising tennis player Aman Dhaiya was one of the unlucky ones, despite arguing with the Australian authorities that being 17 years old, he was not allowed to have vaccination, as the Indian government had approved vaccines for the 15-18 years old only on January 3, leaving little time for Dahiya to be vaccinated.Naturally, Dahiya was questioning exemption being granted to Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic’s controversy triggered a massive backlash from his fans both back home and in Australia, leading to a police action in Melbourne. From the angry Serbian President to the world no.1’s parents, the brickbats have unrelenting on Australia.

Djokovic’s lawyers filed an appeal in the Federal Circuit Court where Judge Anthony Kelly ruled on 10 January against Djokovic’s visa cancellation and ordered his release from Immigration detention, saying, “the government had conceded Border Force’s decision to interview Mr Djokovic and subsequently cancel his visa was unreasonable in the circumstances”.

His lawyers had argued that because he had contracted Covid on December 16, and so he was not eligible for vaccination for 6 months, and hence, the exemption from Tennis Australia and Department of Home Affairs was granted. It is a different matter that Djokovic is against vaccination in principle.

Seeing the adverse publicity and backlash, that too in an election year, in which the federal government had its own set of fumbling to cover over the vaccine roll out, return of Australian citizens and students stranded overseas, and shortage of Rapid Antigen Tests, Prime Minister Scott Morrisson intervened for some damage control saying that the matter was being carefully reviewed by Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke.

On 14th January, after much speculation, Alex Hawke revoked his visa for the second time under Section 133C(3) of the Migration Act in “public interest”, and to prevent a “civil unrest” by the “talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment”. PM Morrisson said the Djokovic’s visa has been revoked ‘in the public interest’ and since the Australians have made ‘many sacrifices’ during the pandemic their interests and safety needed to be protected.

PM’s stand has apparently stuck the right chords amongst the larger Australian community. In the past 12 months thousands of Australians and businesses have suffered unfathomable hardship and pain due to “heartless” border closures and restrictions, strict isolation and quarantine regulations, and vaccination requirement. Families have been separated, and many have been unable to bid goodbyes to their near and dear ones due to border restrictions, despite being fully vaccinated. Children have been separated with mothers, and Australian citizens have been stranded overseas unable to return for months. This exemption flew in the face of them all.

Djokovic’s lawyers challenged the Minister’s decision in the full Federal Court where Chief Justice James Allsop announced the court’s unanimous decision of dismissing the world no.1’s application, with costs to be paid borne by him.

“It sends an appalling message to millions seeking to reduce #COVID19Aus risk to themselves & others. #Vaccination shows respect, Novak,” tweeted Stephen Parnis, a former vice-president of the Australian Medical Association. “I don’t care how good a tennis player he is. If he’s refusing to get vaccinated, he shouldn’t be allowed in,” he tweeted

Even the Indian and English cricketers have been subjected to strictest of quarantine and Covid regulations, and therefore, granting exemption to Novak was definitely making a mockery of all those who made the “sacrifices” and went through a lot of pain to abide by the Covid rules and regulations, and do their bit to entertain in a safe manner.

Sport now days is not just a sport, but is closely linked with the well-being of thousands who congregate to watch it.The pandemic does not discriminate, and so shouldn’t we!

That he has been deported is not the key issue, but that he was allowed to enter in the first place, is. Novak’s double visa revocation and deportation is extraordinary indeed, but so is the time in which we all live.