Djokovic, appeal rejected: he will be expelled from Australia

In a unanimous decision, judges James Allsop, Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan dismissed Djokovic’s appeal against the second visa cancellation. The reasons will be published later. “I’ll take some time to rest and recover, before making any further comments beyond that. I am extremely disappointed with the sentence, ”said Djokovic, who will now have to leave the country.

The sentence

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At 5.45am Melbourne (7.45am Italian time) the court made the sentence public. The head of the Allsop college made it clear that this question is not an appeal against the executive government’s decision: the court’s job was simply to assess whether the decision made by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was illegal, irrational or legally unreasonable. The court found that the reasons outlined by Novak Djokovic’s lawyers did not prove this. It means that the decision taken by the Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke to cancel Djokovic’s visas was correct. “I respect the Court and I will cooperate in organizing my departure. I am uncomfortable that the focus has been on me in recent weeks and now I hope it shifts to the game and tournament I love. I want to wish the best to the players, the staff, the fans of the Australian Open. I also want to thank my family, my friends, my team, my fans, and my compatriots for their continued support. You have all been a great source of strength for me ”.

What happens

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The Serbian will remain in custody in Melbourne until his expulsion. Normally a deportation order also includes a ban on returning to Australia for three years, but there are exceptions. The reason with which the minister had canceled Djokovic’s visa not vaccinated against covid-19 was therefore confirmed, namely that his presence on Australian territory could be a risk to health and “public order” and “could be counterproductive to vaccination efforts by others in Australia ”.

Tomorrow Djokovic should have played the last match on the Rod Laver Arena against the Serbian Kecmanovic, a lucky loser enters his place on the scoreboard: it is the Italian Salvatore Caruso, n. 150 of the world.

Further updates coming soon.