The Australian Prime Minister has spoken out after Novak Djokovic had his visa revoked for a second time by the Immigration Minister on Friday. Scott Morrison threw his support behind Alex Hawke’s decision to revoke the world No 1’s visa “on health and good order grounds” and “in the public interest”. Djokovic is now expected to attend an interview with immigration on Saturday before being deported, unless his lawyers appeal the decision.
Djokovic initially had his visa cancelled when arriving in Melbourne last week, but won an appeal to have it reinstated on the grounds of “procedural fairness” after the government conceded they failed to give the Serb enough time to prove his medical exemption.
It meant the world No 1 was able to freely enter Melbourne after spending the weekend in a detention hotel, but Immigration Minister Alex Hawke still had personal powers to cancel his visa for a second time, and exercised these on Friday.
After days of consideration, Djokovic’s legal team were verbally informed of the decision to cancel his visa at 5:35pm Melbourne time, and given the decision in writing at 6:03pm, shortly after it was announced publicly.
Mr Hawke said he made the decision “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” and said he “carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.”
JUST IN: Novak Djokovic has visa cancelled in Australian Open saga
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