Djokovic saga an unforced error of colossal proportions

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This was published 2 years ago

Djokovic saga an unforced error of colossal proportions

By Matthew Knott

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to revoke Novak Djokovic’s visa just days before the Australian Open will undoubtedly prove popular with the Australian public.

Never particularly well-liked, the world No.1 has tarnished his reputation by refusing to get vaccinated and breaching Serbia’s isolation rules after testing positive for COVID-19 in December.

But the damage to Australia’s international image from the absurdly drawn-out process has been just as profound and will not be quickly forgotten.

Whether it be on “stopping the boats” or preventing COVID-19 from spreading out of control until the arrival of the Omicron variant, Australia’s tough approach to border security has often been remarkably harsh but undeniably effective at achieving its goals.

And Tennis Australia has succeeded in turning the Australian Open, once the ugly duckling of the four grand slams, into a hugely successful event that more than holds its own with Wimbledon and the French and US opens.

The Djokovic saga has made both the Morrison government and Tennis Australia look incompetent and indecisive, more concerned with managing public perceptions than fairly applying the rules.

So much for the land of the “fair go”.

While controversial issues are usually more complicated than they appear on the surface, the Djokovic issue boils down to one pretty simple question. Are unvaccinated foreigners allowed into the country if they have recently had COVID-19?

Given we are mired in a deadly pandemic, it is hardly unreasonable or extreme for Australia to insist that only fully vaccinated foreigners are allowed into the country. For example, since November all foreign travellers arriving in the US by plane have been required to present proof of vaccination.

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Exemptions for people who had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 would be understandable too given they have some degree of natural immunity.

The key point is that the rules should be easily understood and applied fairly to everyone. That did not occur.

It should have been clear to Djokovic - and all the other Australian Open players - whether they would be allowed in to the country before they boarded a plane to Australia.

Certainly, the issue should have been resolved before the Open draw was conducted with Djokovic seeded number one.

The cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s visa has shed light on the vagaries of Australia’s visa cancellation regime.

The cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s visa has shed light on the vagaries of Australia’s visa cancellation regime.Credit: AP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted that no-one - including Djokovic - was “above the rules” but the rules turned out to be maddeningly opaque.

The fact it took Hawke four full days after a federal judge revoked the first cancellation of Djokovic’s visa to make his ministerial decision only reinforces that what should have been a clear-cut decision became unnecessarily complex and politicised.

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Most Australians don’t want Djokovic to be allowed to play in Melbourne. But the way the story has played out has been a global embarrassment for Australia, and an unforced error of colossal proportions.

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