Latest updates from the SMH.Australian immigration officials are now looking into a series of errors and discrepancies relating to Novak Djokovic’s COVID-19 test and travel after the tennis star apologised for taking part in a media interview while knowingly positive with coronavirus.
The Sydney Morning HeraldandThe Agecan reveal the Department of Home Affairs’ investigation into the tennis star has widened to include hisbreach of isolation requirements in Serbia, theincorrect statements on his travel entry formandinconsistencies on the date of his COVID-19 test.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is separately considering whether to cancel Djokovic’s visa on the grounds that prior infection of COVID-19 in the past six months is not a valid exemption for being unvaccinated. But Mr Hawke could also consider whether to cancel the Serbian star’s visa on character grounds, informed by the Home Affairs probe.Mr Hawke was to decide whether to use his personal power to deport the Serbian star on public health grounds as early as Wednesday, but Djokovic’s lawyers submitted additional information that will draw out the process longer than expected.
The world No. 1 on Wednesday apologised for an error of judgment for taking part in a media interview a day after receiving a positive test result and admitted that his Australian Travel Declaration form incorrectly stated he had not travelled in the 14 days prior to arriving in Australia despite being in SpainThe documents sent by Djokovic’s lawyers to Australian government solicitors included evidence to support the player’s claim that a prior COVID-19 infection is grounds for a medical exemption. The file included journal articles supporting the validity of this medical dispensation.
Concerned that the saga was dragging on, some MPs within the Morrison government want the Immigration Minister to make a decision sooner. But federal sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Mr Hawke was intent on going through the proper process even if that meant it went on for days.
In alengthy post on Instagram, Djokovic said he received a positive result on the night of December 17 after submitting the test the day before. But in his sworn court affidavit Djokovic said he was “tested and diagnosed” on December 16.
The rest of the article can be found on smh.com.au
