Australian immigration minister issues Djokovic statement

Author: Editors Desk Source: RT

January 10, 2022 at 07:38

Novak Djokovic is sweating on his participation at the Australian Open. © Getty Images

Australia’s immigration minister will not decide Novak Djokovic’s fate until at least Tuesday, after a judge ruled that the tennis star be released from detention

Novak Djokovic could still be deported from Australia although a decision will not be taken until Tuesday at the earliest. Djokovic was backed in his case by a Melbourne court judge on Monday.

In confusing scenes after the initial court decision, Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, told reporters that his son had been “re-arrested”, while police surrounded the offices in Melbourne where the tennis star had been allowed to follow the day’s proceedings with his lawyers.

Despite being backed by Judge Anthony Kelly, who ordered his release, Djokovic was warned by government barrister Christopher Tan that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could yet exercise his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa once again and deport him.

However, it later emerged that no decision had been taken by Hawke and that “the minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.”

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