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Novak Djokovic returned to court on Sunday to face the Australian Government’s second attempt.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has accused the use of discretionary powers to revoke his visa by a world tennis player who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 on the grounds that it was a threat to public order because his presence would push him against vaccines. feeling.
Djokovic’s lawyers told the Federal Court that there was no evidence to support the Australian Government’s claim.
Nick Wood, in place of Djokovic, described how the player competed in the Australian Open last year and other major tournaments around the world without causing any protests or unrest from anti-vaccine supporters.
“If Mr. Djokovic’s presence and participation in a tennis tournament had any basis for thinking that he could somehow create that anti-vaxa feeling, it would be expected that he would be supported by some evidence of anti-vaxa protests or rallies. Like tennis events,” Wood said.
Arguing that the Immigration Minister had not identified anything like this, Wood said that the forced removal of Djokovic could spur the anti-vaccine movement and protests.
The three judges of the Federal Court are expected to hear the whole case in a single day so that the nine-time Australian Open champion can start defending his title on Monday at the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
Djokovic, who has refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, has been on a roller coaster for 10 days. He arrived in Australia January 5th. The tennis star wanted to enter the country with a medical exemption from the rules for vaccinating all visitors, but was denied entry.
The movement has sparked outrage over its exceptions in Australia, which has suffered some of the harshest blockages of COVID-19 in the world and where more than 90 per cent of adults are vaccinated.
The controversy has turned into a political touch for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he prepares for the May elections.
Following the government’s initial decision to lift the visa, Djokovic spent four nights in a hotel near Melbourne city center. released on Monday when he won a court appeal against the grounds for revoking his first visa.
But on Friday, the immigration minister blocked Djokovic’s visa again.
Court documents released by the athlete’s lawyers on Saturday showed that Hawk had justified his decision by arguing that Djokovic’s presence could have created more sentiment against the Australian vaccine at a time when the country is at its worst outbreak of the virus.
“While I accept that Mr Djokovic has a low individual risk of transmitting COVID-19 to other people, I believe his presence could be a risk to the health of the Australian community,” Hawke said in a letter to Djokovic. legal team.
As the court proceedings unfolded, hundreds of activists held a peaceful rally outside the Melbourne Park complex, which houses the Australian Open, and organized another one on Monday.
“We are at the Rod Laver Arena to support Novak. He has won nine [Australian Open] titles here. Hopefully this will be No. 10 if he gets out of his forties and regains his visa, “said Harrison McLean, one of the rally organizers.” We are a peaceful movement to raise awareness and support the freedom of choice for everyone here. “
Djokovic, who has won the last three Australian Open titles, is looking for his 21st Grand Slam individual title record. He is currently associated with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer by one man in history.
The Serb’s main rivals have become increasingly patient with the uncertainty over the tie and the cloud over their sport.
“I’m actually a little tired of the situation because I think it’s important to talk about our sport, about tennis,” Nadal said, tying himself with Djokovic in 20 major titles.
Alexander Zverev, the world number one, said Djokovic had been treated unfairly and that the Serb could be used as a political pawn by the Australian authorities, Canberra has denied.
“This isn’t a nice thing for everyone, especially for him,” Zverev said. But don’t question his legacy. ‘
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