Federal Circuit Court judge Anthony Kelly has demanded the release of world tennis number 1 Novak Djokovic, who has been in a detention center since arriving in Australia. If this decision can allow the Serb to participate in the Australian Open, the Australian government can still decide his expulsion.
Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly ordered Novak Djokovic’s immediate release from the detention center he was placed in last week, a victory in the world’s No. 1’s legal battle to enter Australia without being vaccinated against Covid-19. Justice has also just overturned the government’s decision to cancel the Serbian passport.
Djokovic inadmissible for three years?
A government lawyer warned, however, that Canberra could still order Djokovic’s deportation, which would bar him from entering Australia for three years. With the Australian government facing a humiliating and high-profile defeat, lawyer Christopher Tran has indicated that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke can still order Djokovic’s deportation. “I was told that (the minister) would examine the possibility of exercising a personal power to cancel,” he said.
This judicial standoff began five days ago with the cancellation of the 34-year-old visa when he arrived in Australia to compete in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Should he take part in the tournament, he could afford a 21st Grand Slam tournament that would place him at the top of tennis history, ahead of his two historic rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.