Saga with Djokovic

I really feel like Australia has put itself in the middle of ****storm in the situation with Djokovic and his exemption, visa and bid to play at upcoming AO.

Irrespective of how anyone feels about it the guy got visa, also got medical exemption and ticked all the boxes and arrived in Melbourne. Also worth mentioning that a few other tennis players in identical situation were allowed into the country. Now for some reason only Djokovic was singled out and not allowed in. Where is equity in that?

I was never a bit fan of him but if he ends up competing at this AO I’ll support him 100%.

How do you feel about all this drama? Should he be allowed in?

 

Couple of good articles on the topic:

Novak Djokovic the unlikely hostage in petty political saga

Tennis Australia: Novak Djokovic cast perfectly in Australia’s COVID-19 drama

 

Let him play!

 

Good thread - https://mobile.twitter.com/Voice4Victoria/status/1478878874951839746

 

Good quote from the abc article above:

“Djokovic is not popular, sure, but it's unsettling watching someone be given the promise of entry to the country, make the trip out, then be denied at the border.”

 

But apparently he didn't - and that was the crux.

If it had been an "ordinary" citizen, would they have been allowed in? Nope? Then sorry Novak ... the public are fed up with "celebrities" getting special treatment and suspect the era of celebrity/influencers is fast approaching it's use by date

Everyone knew - well in advance - what the requirements for entry were. It comes down to that old chestnut of actions (or lack thereof) and consequences

 

I'm with @Lizzie. Comes down to personal responsibility.

Also my sense of the guy is he's probably very entitled.

 

There is no consistency when it comes to migration policies in Australia. This is nothing compared to what other migrants face on a regular basis.

For Novak no way he should be allowed in unless everyone else is accomodated the same rights. For those players who sneaked in already, review each one and chuck them out.

 

He may be entitled but that has nothing to do with this circus. The world will be laughing at all this situation and Australia. Not a good example.

 

No one has ever laughed or been horrified by our immigration policies ......(Sarcastic)...

 

For me it's simple. He either did the the right thing or wrong thing. Right thing, let him play. Wrong thing, send him bags packing.

It's hard to morally justify letting someone break the rules to play tennis when so many people had to watch their loved ones die from the opposite side of a glass just so they could follow the rules.

 

More like *Drama

 

Well, that’s the thing. To me it looks like he followed the rules: visa granted, exemption approved, all good. Travels to Aus only to be told “sorry mate, we’ve changed our mind and your visa is no longer valid“.

 

Listening to the Radio. When you get to customs you need the paperwork/proof for your medical. exemption. Apparently he could have come if he did 2 weeks hotel quarantine.

 

Was he given an exemption that was later withdrawn?

he shouldn’t be given special treatment though

makes Australia look bad

 

Looks like Tennis Australia stuffed up then and should be apologising to Novak. Either way he shouldn't be allowed to play. I am Novaks biggest fan. But no way he should get special treatment in this scenario.

 

The way I read it is that he had an exemption to play in the Australian Open from Tennis Australia. That is the limit of their authority.

Being allowed to enter Australia is a different story. He needs actual proof of his reason for vaccine exemption to enter Australia as an unvaccinated person who wants to avoid quarantine. Apparently he has yet to supply this to his barrister.

 

I wonder if he wont reveal when he had covid during the last 6 months as it would incriminate him for playing tournaments while he had it?

 

This will destroy credibility of health boffin. Public health advice is science and must be considered first, unless you are filthy rich and arrogant, in which case it doesn't matter.

I don't think so.

Playing a game is a privilege. Afl players sacked for less.

 

Thing is, his team got authorisation from those who didn't have authority to give authorisation