Australia Cancels Novak Djokovic Visa Again
On Thursday, the government of australia denied Novak Djokovic's visa for the 2nd time, placing his attendance in the 2022 Australian Open in jeopardy. After a judge invalidated a previous cancellation and released Djokovic from deportation proceedings on Monday, Immigration minister Alex Hawke invoked discretionary authority to cancel Djokovic's visa once more.
In a statement, Hawke stated, "Today I utilised my discretion under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to terminate Mr Novak Djokovic's visa on peace and healthy order concerns, on the premise that it was in the interests of the public to do so." On Friday, Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison indicated that the government's stance on Djokovic has not improved.
His comments were made after the Australian Open selection was postponed without reason. Djokovic has been included in the draw, which took place following Morrison's presentation, and he was assigned to play unseeded fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in round one. Last week, Djokovic, a vaccine sceptic, sparked outrage in australia by announcing that he would be travelling to melbourne for the Australian Open with a medical certificate from the need that guests be immunised against COVID-19.