By Neeraj Nanda*
MELBOURNE, 18 January 2022: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic, world no 1 in Tennis, 9 times winner of Australian Open (AO) titles is back home, with bad news coming from France. His story here made global headlines. The big sporting icon was in detention after his entry visa to Australia was cancelled, won it back in court, again cancelled, again went to court, and lost. Finally, deported back to Serbia. All this for not being vaccinated against COVID-19. The Australian Open (AO) has opened and is likely to go on.
So, what happened? Let’s start from the beginning. Australia does not allow non-citizens or non-permanent residents, to enter the country without being vaccinated or without an exemption. When Novak entered Australia, he was not vaccinated but was given an exemption. Though he had announced his AO plans in a Tweet, but things turned out differently.
He was stopped at the airport for many hours and then detained as he was not allowed entry into Australia. He was shifted to a detention centre (a hotel) with asylum seekers around him. His plea in a court gave dividends and the visa was restored, and he started training. Novak seemed to be getting back on track.
Despite support from Serbia, family, friends, and supporters, a confident Novak got the bad news. His visa was cancelled under the Minister’s discretionary power ‘in public interest’. He went to the federal court, which upheld the Minister’s decision; he entering the country without vaccination could boost the anti-vexers here.
Some have blamed politics while others have blamed the Morrison government for this messy handling. Simply put, he was given exemption from getting vaccinated and granted an entry visa. But what subsequently made the reversal is obvious. Only, a visa (with an exemption or not) to an unvaccinated person (known for anti-vax views) should not have been granted at the outset. The subsequent mess would not have happened.
The people of Australia (like other countries) are now in the third year of the pandemic. The Omicron is showing its colours and the suffering to life, business and society speak for itself. No one can be above the law, whatever be the world ranking.
* The writer is a senior journalist with 40 years of experience in print, radio, TV and online.
