Vexxed Open: Will Djokovic's visa saga pay off for Morrison?

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Scott Morrison must have been hugely relieved when a court ruling sent world tennis champion Novak Djokovic packing out of Melbourne on Sunday (Jan 16). The political stakes for his ruling Liberal-National Party coalition could not be higher.

Djokovic's Australian entry visa to defend his title in the Australian Open tournament was cancelled on "health and good order grounds" due to his "well-known stance on vaccination". The judge who delivered the verdict said the court had made the ruling on the lawfulness of the decision, not on whether it was the right decision. In other words, the decision rested on whether the government indeed had the powers used in the cancellation order and whether it was exercised lawfully. To be sure, Djokovic has previously made clear his aversion to getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Canberra argued successfully he should be deported as allowing him to stay in Australia could foster anti-vax sentiment.

For Morrison, however, this episode put the spotlight on how the matter was mishandled from the start. Australian visa rules stipulate that anyone seeking to enter the country must be double vaccinated. Djokovic tested positive for Covid-19 in December. The Serbian authorities then issued him an exempt-from-vaccination certificate. Armed with the document, Djokovic applied to travel to Australia, and his visa was approved before he got on the plane. It was only in Melbourne airport, after his arrival, that immigration officials decided to revoke his visa on the grounds that he had not been vaccinated and he was not entitled to an exemption. Worse, it has since been revealed that an Australian immigration officer is stationed at every airport that offers a direct flight into Australia. This officer must give his approval for everyone boarding any plane that lands in Australia. So how was it that Djokovic was allowed to board the plane in Dubai? Morrison has not offered any explanation.