Novak Djokovic threatens to quit the Australia Open. Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke said the 34-year-old’s visa was canceled again.
Australian Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke has used his personal right to revoke the visa for unvaccinated tennis pro Novak Djokovic. This was well justified and “in the public interest,” said the minister. Djokovic is also threatened with a three-year visa ban. The document in which the immigration minister explained his move was released via Twitter.
It was initially unclear whether the 34-year-old Serb would appeal Friday’s decision and possibly still be able to take part in the Australian Open.
The authorities had already refused Djokovic entry upon arrival last week and classified the documents presented for his TUE as insufficient. However, because he was not given enough time to react, a judge overturned the entry ban during a court hearing on Monday. Immigration Minister Hawke announced that he would make a decision on Djokovic’s residency status later this week. In addition, the government had announced that it would continue to withdraw the visa from the tennis professional.
Novak Djokovic as a political diversionary maneuver?
On Wednesday, Djokovic denied having falsified his entry documents. At the same time, however, he acknowledged mistakes in dealing with his positive test result. The case sparked displeasure among Australians. They had long lived under lockdown and social distancing unprecedented in the world.
Politicians saw the Djokovic case as a diversionary maneuver by the current government, which is intended to cover up failures in its own corona policy. Now, too, government critic and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took the renewed cancellation as an opportunity to rail against the government under Scott Morrison. He wrote on Twitter: “A political distraction from empty shelves and the national lack of boosters and rapid tests.”
Sources: With material from DPA, AFP,
Source From: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
