Djokovic ruling fits with Australia's tough immigration line

Interesting article, every country has the right to their own immigration policy. ours is not a perfect system but at least there is transparency in the process and legal avenues including an appeals system in place.

Might seem harsh but compared to other places in the world like China, NK, Middle East etc maybe not?

One of the online polls conducted on a news site down here showed 80% of respondents wanted Djokovic sent home.

Australian politics us steered by boomers who only care for their property value.

Tough calls win votes so the politicians can never resist tough posturing because they know it wins the boomer vote.

@AustPaul

I agree. How a country deals with a crisis, in this case a worldwide pandemic, should be decided by that country on a case by case basis. As outsiders, what a foreign country does may seem strange, but it is their country, isn't it?

My house, my rules. This seems to sum it up accurately or, When in Rome, do as the Romans do. In other words, if you're planning to visit or stay in a foreign country, such as Australia, then you'd better do your homework beforehand and be certain that everything is in order before going, especially when it comes to vaccinations and being honest about yourself during a worldwide pandemic. If you're not vaccinated and there are doubts about your honesty, especially if you're caught telling flat out lies, then why should you expect special treatment compared to everybody else?

Personally, I think it's a shame that Djokovich has put Australia in this awkward position. Australia's a nice country, but this situation of whether or not to establish a double-standard and show preferential treatment to a tennis star is unfortunate. Being kind and nice are mixed in with this situation as well, but it really boils down to preferential treatment. Now, people on one side or the other of this divisive issue are going to be angry and upset by the final decision and it's all because of Djokovich's actions, regardless of whether you support him or not. Australia is now as much a victim of this fiasco as Djokovich is, however, the difference is that Australia hasn't done anything wrong other than having a crystal clear policy about visitors being vaccinated before entering their country. Djokovich is the one who's trying to break the rules, not Australia.

Djokovic, who is unvaccinated against the coronavirus, faces deportation from Australia after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday revoked his visa for the second time, citing health and “good order” considerations.

and

“The Morrison government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hawke said Friday in a statement.

LOL!

As their narrative crumbles in the face of low genuine illness due to COVID, food shortages and test kit shortages, the government is now implicitly acknowledging that the legal case for deporting Djokovic is flimsy, so they have to ramp up the fear, "othering" and character assassination:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/australia-declares-djokovic-a-risk-to-civil-order-and-public-health-20220114-p59oex.html

The furious debate that had engulfed Djokovic for the past 10 days – whether a recent bout of COVID-19 provided him with a genuine exemption to travel to Australia without being vaccinated – has been abandoned by the government without Mr Hawke even reading Djokovic’s extensive submissions on the question.

Instead, the case is now headed to the Federal Court and will be argued on dramatically new grounds at a public hearing before Justice David O’Callaghan at 10.15am Saturday.

Mr Hawke’s detailed reasons for his decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time since his arrival in Australia late on January 5, revealed by this masthead, portray the nine-time Australian Open winner as a menace to both public health and public order.

The minister describes Djokovic as a “high profile unvaccinated individual” who has publicly indicated his opposition to getting the jab and demonstrated an “apparent disregard” for basic COVID rules such as isolating after a positive test.

it’s just politics and how this country wants to portray itself to “the world”.

Australians may want him deported but there are also many wondering how he can get all these super expedited court hearings (hefty costs which their tax will be paying for). Mr or Ms average Joe could be waiting months or even years for such hearings. And what happens if he loses and courts rule against the minister’s decision. What sort of precedent does this create for those locked up already for years ( yes years) in the same hotel.

@Blacklabel

But it’s public policy. If you or I try to enter Australia and we’re unvaccinated, we won’t be allowed to enter, right? So it’s not just politics…it’s public policy. Politicians might be jumping in now for the attention, but this is first and foremost public policy.

Sure until you consider that “public policy” isn’t actually made by the public.

but I get your point.

Sure until you consider that “public policy” isn’t actually made by the public.

Are you suggesting that Djokivic is free to flout the policy because the policy wasn’t decided by popular referendum? What are you suggesting?

And the Serbs are waffling on about him being the No.1 tennis player in the world. That has nothing to do with it. He (and his team) flouted the rules and thought they would get away with it (probably because he is the No.1 tennis player in the world!). Anyway, big mistake on Djokovic's part as he will miss a big chance to get his 21st Grand Slam title in Australia. Tennis has rules, so does Australia's immigration department.