Mobilenews24X7 Bureau
Melbourne, Jan 14 : Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday cancelled tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa again ahead of the Australian Open.
Djokovic was included in the Australian Open, which is scheduled to begin on January 17, draw despite uncertainties over the defending champion’s stay in the country on Thursday.
The decision means the Serbian player now faces deportation. However, the 34-year-old can still launch another legal challenge to stay in the country, BBC reported
“Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” said Hawke as quoted by CNN.
“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds. In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Djokovic.”
In an Instagram post, vaccine-sceptic Djokovic had admitted to entry form error and outing despite being Covid-19 positive, leading to question mark whether the Scott Morrison-led government would cancel his visa again.
Djokovic’s visa was first cancelled on January 6. He was denied entry in Australia after the world no. 1 failed to meet the entry rules. He also spent days in the immigration detention.
Later on January 10, the tennis ace won the bid to remain in Australia after the judge ordered his immediate release from the immigration detention.
