Immigration Minister Alex Hawke invoked his personal power to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa on “health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so” on Friday at 6:00 pm local. Then Djokovic’s lawyers attended a “directions hearing”, which began at 8:45 pm local time.
IMMIGRATION INTERVIEW TOMORROW Djokovic will be taken into immigration detention after he is interviewed by officials tomorrow morning at 8:00 am local. Djokovic is currently staying in a “residential address” and will not be deported until his court proceedings end. Djokovic’s lawyers will file a formal application to the court tonight and submissions tomorrow by midday. The case will be transferred to the Federal Court, which will hold a hearing on Saturday at 10:15 am.
REASON BEHIND THE VISA SAGA Djokovic’s lawyers claim Immigration Minister has based his decision to cancel the Serbian star’s visa on the basis that his presence in Australia would excite anti-vax sentiment. Counsel Nicholas Wood, SC, said Mr Hawke had chosen to “remove a man of good standing” from Australia and “impair” his career over comments Djokovic had made in 2020: “He has no rational basis to say the decision he makes is up to generate a greater amount of anti-vax sentiment that he is seeking to minimise,” he said.
JUDGE ORDERS DJOKOVIC TO REMAIN IN AUSTRALIA Novak Djokovic’s lawyer Nick Wood, SC, has told the court they seek to apply for relief with respect to the decision to cancel the tennis champion’s visa, an injunction that prevents his removal from Australia, and a mandatory order requiring his release from immigration detention. Mr Wood told the court Djokovic has not been taken into immigration detention but in a residential address tonight.
GOVERNMENT MPS TO ‘REFRAIN’ FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office has sent a message to all MPs instructing them to not talk publicly about the Djokovic saga for now: “Following the decision by the Minister for Immigration regards to Mr Djokovic, the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) has asked colleagues refrain from any public comments as immigration decisions are sometimes preceded and followed by legal action. The PMO has asked that no public comment be made on today’s decision – only the Minister for Immigration Minister and Prime Minister will comment as required.”
Source: AIPS