Australia's immigration minister Alex Hawke has reportedly cancelled Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic's visa.
The minister cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.
Alex Hawke released a statement concerning the fate the world's number one tennis player late on Friday afternoon:
“Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.
“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.
“In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.
“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I thank the officers of the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force who work every day to serve Australia’s interests in increasingly challenging operational environments."
Lawyers for the world number 1 tennis player are set to seek an immediate injunction which would allow him to stay and play his first round of the Australian Open pending an expedited trial next week.
