Novak Djokovic covid exemption - boycott the Open

Mike Harding · Guru

RE: Novak Djokovic covid exemption - boycott the Open

Santa · Guru

It all seems pretty black and white to me, he either meets the criteria for entry or he doesn't, if no it should be hasta la vista. wink

dorian · Guru

Novak Djokovic faces being deported from Australia after his visa was cancelled:

www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-06/live-novak-djokovic-visa-reactions/100741054

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Totally agree that if not meeting visa requirements then he should be on the next flight home.

Will his money buy him a court hearing in Australia today or will our Fed Govt uphold its own decision and send him back to Serbia?
He has treated our country and our government with the utmost of contempt by travelling here knowing full well he did not comply.
Tennis Australia and the VIC govt may have confused the issue but rules are rules and neither of these two can ignore ABF regulations.

Anyone else would be on the next flight out of town.

Kebbin · Guru

I disagree not everyone can afford the costs of such an application.

dorian · Guru

I thought that the immigration minister had the final say, over and above any court.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Kebbin wrote:
I disagree not everyone can afford the costs of such an application.

Yes Kebbin,

The average person could not afford the appeal with the only option would be a seat on the next aircraft back to where he or she came from.

We could ask why the federal court needs to hear a case of a traveller who openly chooses not to comply with our federal govt laws.

My current feelings are that his representatives will claim that the VIC Govt and Tennis Australia advised him to come to Australia. If this is the case then the entire situation will become political. Labour state against Liberal federal.

If the decision is that he is permitted to stay and play in Australia contrary to current laws then Scomo wil just claim that the ultimate decision was out of his (governments) hands.

Call me cynical but I cant help but think that this entire fiasco is just a snow job cover up to get him into the country. We all know the saying, Money Talks and anything you step in cry Walks.

yobarr · Guru

Clarky 1 wrote:
Kebbin wrote:
I disagree not everyone can afford the costs of such an application.
Yes Kebbin,
The average person could not afford the appeal with the only option would be a seat on the next aircraft back to where he or she came from.
We could ask why the federal court needs to hear a case of a traveller who openly chooses not to comply with our federal govt laws.
My current feelings are that his representatives will claim that the VIC Govt and Tennis Australia advised him to come to Australia. If this is the case then the entire situation will become political. Labour state against Liberal federal.
If the decision is that he is permitted to stay and play in Australia contrary to current laws then Scomo wil just claim that the ultimate decision was out of his (governments) hands.
Call me cynical but I cant help but think that this entire fiasco is just a snow job cover up to get him into the country. We all know the saying, Money Talks and anything you step in Walks.

His visa has just been cancelled,and he has been asked to depart.However,he now plans to appeal,and his Daddy has weighed in from Serbia,as has their PM.Personally I reckon he should be booted out.Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 6th of January 2022 11:40:19 AM

Santa · Guru

The interesting point is that if his visa has been cancelled, he will be prevented from legally entering Australia for the next three years.

I imagine if he is deported, he will probably lose interest in playing in Australia in the future, unfortunate, regardless of what you think of the man, he is a very good player and a major draw card.

Cant say I blame Djokovic for this fiasco, he applied for a visa, it was granted, he boarded a plane bound for Oz believing he would be allowed in, then the powers that be dropped the ball, bloody disgrace.

-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 6th of January 2022 12:00:02 PM

montie · Guru

Santa wrote:
The interesting point is that if his visa has been cancelled, he will be prevented from legally entering Australia for the next three years.
I imagine if he is deported, he will probably lose interest in playing in Australia in the future, unfortunate, regardless of what you think of the man, he is a very good player and a major draw card.
Cant say I blame Djokovic for this fiasco, he applied for a visa, it was granted, he boarded a plane bound for Oz believing he would be allowed in, then the powers that be dropped the ball, bloody disgrace.

-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 6th of January 2022 12:00:02 PM

However,

His Visa did not have a medical exemption and obviously he could not produce proof of vaccination.

The only "exemption" he got was from the Vic Govt.

Wanda · Guru

Our beloved PM must think there are some votes in it for him to take the stand he has!!
Or
Maybe I'm being or getting too cynical in my old age........neverrrrrr!!
Ian

-- Edited by Wanda on Thursday 6th of January 2022 01:09:51 PM

Brodie Allen · Guru

Threats from the Djokovic family:

www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/australian-open/australian-open-2022-novak-djokovic-covid-exemptions-world-no1s-father-makes-threat-news-updates/news-story/f4c711fffec3ef050d5114f650243307

I reckon that this fiasco is the fault of the "contrived" forum that allowed him in.

there's gonna be some hurt people that were denied the same priviliges
and relatives/friends have died alone and more.

Are We Lost · Guru

From that link posted by Brodie, the PM saw this coming back in November. He then wrote to Tennis Australia specifically about Djokovic saying ...

People must be fully vaccinated as defined by the ATAGI to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia, which means that people who do not meet the ATAGI definition of fully vaccinated will not be approved for quarantine-free entry, regardless of whether they have received foreign vaccine exemptions."

It is hard to imagine what medical condition could apply that would be a risk for one of the fittest people in the world.

Corndoggy · Senior Member

His medical condition exemption comes under BIG HEAD Syndrome.

KevinJ · Senior Member

We'll see the true story when this episode airs on "Border Security" in the coming weeks. :) biggrin

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Send him back and exclude him from entering for 3 years. Just like they show on Border Security on TV. Wonder if we'll be lucky enough to see it on the show. Mind you there are a lot of wankers shown on there. He will fit right in with them.

LOL. Just beat me to it.

-- Edited by Corndoggy on Thursday 6th of January 2022 02:41:39 PM

-- Edited by Corndoggy on Thursday 6th of January 2022 02:42:10 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Of course; without all this, extensive, public hue and cry I suspect he would have been permitted to play.

dorian · Guru

According to the Guardian ...

"It is understood that Djokovic was relying on a previous Covid infection to claim the exemption, but this is not recognised as a grounds for an exception by the Australian government."

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/06/novak-djokovic-australia-sparks-diplomatic-row-with-visa-cancellation

Not that I care about Djokovic, but why would naturally acquired immunity be any less acceptable than a vaccine?

Mike Harding · Guru

dorian wrote:
Not that I care about Djokovic, but why would naturally acquired immunity be any less acceptable than a vaccine?

As much as I understand these things... contracting covid does not provide on-going immunity and especially so against new strains.

Plain Truth · Guru

dorian wrote:
According to the Guardian ...

"It is understood that Djokovic was relying on a previous Covid infection to claim the exemption, but this is not recognised as a grounds for an exception by the Australian government."
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/06/novak-djokovic-australia-sparks-diplomatic-row-with-visa-cancellation
Not that I care about Djokovic, but why would naturally acquired immunity be any less acceptable than a vaccine?

Because the Australian Government Health Department says so.

dogbox · Guru

if Barnaby Joyce was in charge he would probably have him euthanized

peter67 · Guru

I wonder if Novak's Dad is the son/best mate/brother, of Damir Jokic? remember poor little Jelena Dokic the aussie tennis player and her volatile Dad screaming at everyone during a match?

Corndoggy · Senior Member

He's just a big headed self centred foriener that wants to dictate to Australia, how, why and when, he can come and go in our country. He should have been put on the next flight out of the country and band from entry for the next 3 years. Let the lawyers fight overr it after he's gone Dont give a crap who he is, no1 or not.

Corndoggy · Senior Member

dogbox wrote:
if Barnaby Joyce was in charge he would probably have him euthanized

Think I'm voting for Barnaby. Bugger thinking. I am.

montie · Guru

dorian wrote:
According to the Guardian ...

"It is understood that Djokovic was relying on a previous Covid infection to claim the exemption, but this is not recognised as a grounds for an exception by the Australian government."
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/06/novak-djokovic-australia-sparks-diplomatic-row-with-visa-cancellation
Not that I care about Djokovic, but why would naturally acquired immunity be any less acceptable than a vaccine?

Dorian,

Firstly we don't know if a Covid infection automatically gives immunity and secondly the ABF and Federal requirements do not consider it grounds for a medical exemption.

Plain Truth · Guru

We are all equal,just that some more equal than others.

landy · Guru

dogbox wrote:

if Barnaby Joyce was in charge he would probably have him euthanized

Sounds like a plan biggrin

Mike Harding · Guru

I heard on this morning's news that part of the crowd protesting outside his hotel were "refugee advocates" - oh the irony....

Mike Harding · Guru

dogbox wrote:
if Barnaby Joyce was in charge he would probably have him euthanized

I've always liked Barnaby :)

Wanda · Guru

There really not letting much out, but it is sounding like Tennis Australia and possibly the Vic government are behind trying to let this clown in.
Scomo is now seeing this, in my opinion, as a good vote catching exercise by standing up preaching as he is. Hate to admit I agree with him, for once and maybe the only time!
Lets just hope our legal system show some "guts" and sends this clown packing
As far as the Farther's comments, what a bloody looser, he's acting like the father of a clown
Rafael Nadal said it all in his statement yesterday, he really is a champion, well said Rafa!
Ian