Detention of Novak Djokovic does not harm Australia’s international reputation, Deputy Prime Minister says

Deputy Prime Minister refutes the idea that Australia’s international reputation is being compromised by his detention of world tennis number one Novak Djokovic in an immigration hotel, as his government defends its decision to deport Djokovic to a court court.

Djokovic was held in immigration detention in Melbourne for four nights after border officials determined the Serbian did not meet the country’s entry requirements for vaccination.

The legal battle will begin in earnest at 10 a.m., when the Federal Circuit and Family Court is due to hear Djokovic’s challenge against the cancellation of his visa.

In its comments, the federal government argued that Djokovic had received no assurances that his exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated would be accepted.

Djokovic’s legal team said the Serbian player had an assessment from the Home Office indicating that his responses on his travel declaration indicated that he met the requirements for entry without quarantine into the country.

Ahead of Monday’s hearing, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he would let the tribunal do its job, but reiterated that Health Minister Greg Hunt had clearly advised Tennis Australia last year that he had to recently contracted COVID-19 was “not enough, you have been doubly vaccinated”.

“It was black and white, as clear as that in the letter, but I’ll let the court decide on that,” Mr. Joyce told Channel Seven.

Loading

Australia’s handling of the issue has drawn international attention, and hundreds of Djokovic fans have gathered in Serbia daily to protest his detention.

Last week, the Serbian government called on the Australian ambassador to protest against the “inappropriate and inhumane” treatment of Djokovic.

Former tennis player Paul McNamee has also expressed concern over the situation, which he believes could damage Australia’s sporting reputation.

Loading

But Mr Joyce rejected the suggestion that Australia’s reputation was damaged.

“We will do what is right and we will do what follows the process,” he said.

“It’s the same for everyone, we don’t make special exemptions for people because they’re rich and famous, that’s not how Australia works and it certainly isn’t the mail. that we receive, Australians want everyone to be treated fairly but equally. “

He said it was standard practice for issues determining a person’s entry into the country to be resolved upon arrival.

“We don’t interview you when you get on the plane in Serbia, or when you get on the plane in New York, London or Paris,” Joyce said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he will not comment further given the case is in court.

Tennis Australia says it received ‘conflicting’ information

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said on Sunday he still hopes to see Djokovic play at the Australian Open.

He also claimed that his sports body received inconsistent information from different government agencies as he tried to help coordinate the arrival of players in Australia.

“During this trip, while the introduction of medical exemptions was underway, there was a lot of conflicting information, a lot of conflicting information and we were constantly looking for clarification from day one,” he said. he declares.

“All the information we had at the time, the knowledge we had at the time, was provided to the players.”