Google News Two Australian ministers slam possibility of Novak Djokovic getting his ban rescinded
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Australia’s Shadow Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has made it clear that she thinks that Novak Djokovic's ban from entering the country should not be rescinded. Djokovic, who was deported from Australia earlier this year and handed a three-year ban from entering the country, could return to Australia in January as the Australian government is reportedly strongly considering rescinding his ban.
When Djokovic was deported and handed a three-year ban from entering the country, Scott Morrison was the country's Prime Minister. Since, Morrison has lost elections and Anthony Albanese is Australia's new Prime Minister.
“I don’t think there is any reason it should be overturned simply because someone has a lot of money. So the government would clearly need to look at everyone else in these circumstances who would have had a visa cancelation and see whether or not they should be allowed into the country as well.
It shouldn’t be one rule for Novak Djokovic and a different rule for everyone else who is not worth millions. So if immigration now chooses to make a special allowance for Novak Djokovic the obvious question is what are they going to do about anyone else who may be in similar circumstances? It would be a slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing [and got vaccinated], if all of a sudden, Novak Djokovic is allowed back into the country, simply because he is a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars," Andrews told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Some do not want Djokovic's ban to be rescinded
Dan Tehan, who is Australia's Shadow Immigration Minister, agrees with Andrews that Djokovic's ban should not be rescinded. Tehan feels allowing Djokovic to return to Australia at the start of the 2023 season would "hurt" the integrity of the country's immigration system.
“As a tennis lover, I’d love to see him there. But the most important thing here is that we protect the integrity of our immigration system. The rules about coming into Australia have changed, you don't have to be vaccinated anymore.
If they decide that he can come, they’ve got to do so in making that decision in a way to protect the integrity of our immigration system," Tehan said. Reflecting on the Morrison government's decision to give Djokovic a three-year ban from entering the country, Tehan said it was the right call.
“It was the right decision because there were requirements that needed to be met for him to enter the country,” Tehan said. At the Australian Open, Djokovic is a record nine-time champion.
