For the Australian government, Covid infection is not a sufficient reason to obtain medical exemption and Novak Djokovic has not provided further clear evidence of a contraindication to the vaccine.
Therefore, the Serbian champion cannot enter the country or take part in the Australian Open, and regardless of the judgment of the Court called to rule on the cancellation of the visa, the choice of not letting Djokovic enter Australia is up to the Government.
On the eve of tonight's hearing, this is the position of the Australian executive, contained in the response that will be brought to the hearing.
A few hours after the hearing on the validity or not of the Serbian player's anti-covid certification to enter Australia and participate in the Australian Open, the Melbourne court has published the response that the Australian government will bring to the court, in which the Australian government lawyers they underline the fact that the Serbian champion "is not vaccinated". As stated in point 64, there are no guarantees of entry by a non-Australian citizen to the country. Indeed, there are criteria for entry and reasons why the visa can be canceled or refused. Although Djokovic was confirmed that his applications met the requirements for being able to travel to Australia without quarantine, the Minister of the Interior has the power to verify evidence and cancel his visa. In conclusion,the document reads, Novak Djokovic's request must be refused. In another important step of the document, the Government reaffirms its right to cancel the visa even in the event that the court agrees to Djokovic and revokes the first cancellation of the visa. This is because "Australia, as a sovereign country, maintains the utmost discretion over who it allows to enter its country".
