The visa of tennis star, Novak Djokovic has been revoked by Australia for the second time in a row over Djokovic’s right to remain unvaccinated in Australia.
The decision by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to revoke the visa on “health and good order” grounds means Djokovic could be deported.
But the Serbian can still launch another appeal in a bid to remain in Australia.
Djokovic was scheduled to play in the Australian Open, which commences soon.
The Minister said in a statement: “Today I exercised my power… to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.”
Also, the move means Djokovic may face a three-year ban on obtaining a new Australian visa -though this can be waived.
Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open nine times was hoping to defend his title and win the tournament in a bid to be the most successful male tennis player in history with a record 21 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic’s visa was first revoked not long after he arrived in Melbourne on 6 January, after officials of the Australian border Force said he had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” to receive a vaccine exemption.
Also, there was a big emotional backlash from some Australians that have lived under long and strict Covid lockdowns, over the fact that Djokovic was allowed in despite being unvaccinated.
He was locked up for hours at Melbourne airport’s immigration control, and later spent days at an immigration hotel. His visa was reinstated a few days later by a judge, who ordered his release and ruled that border officials did not follow the correct procedure when he arrived.
However, the reinstated visa was cancelled by Mr Hawke under separate powers in Australia’s Migration Act.
The act empowers him to deport anyone who poses a potential risk to “the health, safety or good order of the Australian community”, however, Djokovic can still appeal this.
