Australian home affairs minister Karen Andrews said on Friday that Novak Djokovic was free to leave to the country at any time after the Serbian world number one spent Thursday night at an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne.
Mr Djokovic, 34 made world headlines when his medical exemption from receiving a vaccination against COVID-19 was not accepted as valid in meeting his visa requirements. This was made known to him on his arrival at Melbourne International Airport late on Wednesday night.
The tennis player is in the country to defend his Australian Open crown and in the process notch up an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam victory that will put him ahead of rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with whom he is currently tied on 20 Grand Slams.
The Serbian player launched a legal challenge against his deportation at a Federal Circuit Court on Thursday. The case was adjourned to be heard at 10 am on Monday morning. The ABC reported that Australian Border Force (ABF) officers could not deport him until 4pm on Monday.
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Mr Djokovic had received a medical exemption from Tennis Australia and the Victorian government that enabled him to travel to Australia.
Home affairs minister Andrews said that there was nothing stopping Mr Djokovic from leaving the country.
“Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that,” Ms Andrews said.
Federal Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday that it was up to Mr Djokovic to ensure he had the correct documents before coming to the country.
“It is for the traveller to be able to assert and back up their ability to come into the country, consistent with our laws. They can take advice, but it is up to them at the end of the day, and if they do not comply with the rules, then the Australian Border Force will do their job and they have done their job.”
He denied Victorian government claims that the ABF had asked the state to sponsor Mr Djokovic’s entry into the country.
Meanwhile, acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that Tennis Australia had not shared information with the state that Federal health minister Greg Hunt had written to tennis organisation’s CEO Craig Tiley to warn him that players who sought vaccination exemptions on the basis of having recently contracted COVID-19 would not be allowed into the country.
