A request by the Australian government to delay the visa hearing of tennis player Novak Djokovic by two days was rejected, according to court documents released on Sunday (9).
Djokovic is currently confined to a temporary detention facility in Melbourne as he wages a court battle against his visa cancellation ahead of this month’s Australian Open.
Karen Andrews, Australia’s home affairs minister, filed a request on Saturday asking “that the final hearing be postponed to Wednesday, January 12, 2022” – five days before the tournament starts.
No reason was given for the postponement request, but it came just hours after Djokovic’s legal team presented a 35-page document outlining the player’s defense against the decision to cancel his temporary visa.
As part of that defense, it turned out that Djokovic received a medical waiver prior to the Australian Open as he had recently recovered from Covid-19.
In a letter dated December 7, which was leaked to journalists this week and could not be independently verified by CNN, Australian Open organizers wrongly informed unvaccinated players that they could enter Australia to participate in the tournament.
Court documents published on Saturday confirmed that Djokovic – who had previously voiced opposition to Covid-19 vaccines and mandatory vaccinations – was not vaccinated when he arrived in Australia on 5 January.
His visa hearing is scheduled to take place at 10 am local time on Monday the 10th, with a decision on whether he can stay in Australia and compete in the tournament.
If the court upholds the visa cancellation, Djokovic will be deported as soon as the proper travel details can be made.
According to Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia, it was “contradictory information” that led to exemptions being granted to players not vaccinated before the Australian Open.
In an interview with CNN affiliate 9 News on Sunday, Tiley refused to blame either party. He said that Tennis Australia is communicating with Australia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs “every week” and that all parties involved are operating in a “very challenging environment”.
Tiley added that he would like to see Djokovic play at the Australian Open. The world’s No. 1 hopes to win his 10th Australian Open title and 21st Melbourne Grand Slam title this month.
Djokovic’s detention at the Park Hotel, an alternative detention site for refugees and asylum seekers, since Thursday has attracted widespread attention; supporters gathered outside calling for his release, while others highlighted the plight of some 30 refugees who are also detained at the hotel.
In Serbia, Djokovic’s birthplace, his parents protested the conditions to which they say their son is being subjected as a “prisoner” at the hotel – a allegation Andrews denied earlier this week.
“He’s free to go out any time he wants, and Border Force is really going to make it easy,” Andrews told ABC on Friday.
In an interview with Serbian national TV station RTV Pink on Saturday, the country’s prime minister, Ana Brnabic, said that Djokovic will receive “gluten-free meals, exercise equipment and a laptop” while he remains in detention.
According to court documents published on Saturday, Djokovic has repeatedly asked to be transferred to “a more suitable place of detention that would allow him to train” ahead of the Australian Open.
Brnabic said he spoke with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne but was unable to overturn the decision to keep Djokovic at the Park Hotel while he awaits the outcome of his legal case.
“He’s still at the Park Hotel, but I hope we’ve made his stay a little more bearable with the concessions we’ve made for him,” she said.
Josh Pennington contributed reporting.
This content was originally created in English.
original version
Reference: CNN Brasil
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