Immigration minister Andrew Giles issues a final statement regarding the Novak Djokovic Australian saga granting him the visa to enter Australia in 2023

Immigration minister Andrew Giles issues a final statement regarding the Novak Djokovic Australian saga granting him the visa to enter Australia in 2023

Andrew Giles and Novak Djokovic

Australian Immigration minister Andrew Giles has issued one last statement revoking Novak Djokovic’s ban to enter Australia which means that he can now officially enter the country and hence will compete at the 2023 Australian Open. Djokovic was banned from entering Australia for 3 years after he lost a 10-day-long tussle with the government and the judiciary.

He got his visa canceled and was detained from the country as a result of which he wasn’t able to defend his Australian Open title. Despite his vaccination status, the Australian government has decided to revoke Djokovic’s ban citing the ease of Covid-19 protocols worldwide. In a statement released by Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles, he mentioned all the previous sections under which Djokovic was banned from the country.

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“On 14 January 2022, the then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs made a decision under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to cancel the visa of Mr. Novak Djokovic on public interest grounds. A subsequent challenge to that decision was dismissed by the Full Federal Court which found that the decision was not affected by legal error,” the statement read.

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Novak Djokovic to play in the 2023 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic - FirstSportz
Novak Djokovic

The statement also mentioned how the decision can be revoked on terms if the person satisfies the Minister that the ground for canceling the visa no longer exists. The minister has hence revoked the decision and allowed Djokovic to enter the country.

“A decision to cancel a visa under section 133C(3) may be revoked if the person satisfies the Minister that the ground for canceling the visa no longer exists. A decision to revoke a visa cancellation does not mean the original decision to cancel was affected by the error,” the statement further read.

“Since the cancellation of Mr. Djokovic’s visa in January 2022, all COVID-19-related Australian border restrictions under the Biosecurity Act 2015 have been removed, including the requirement to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status to enter Australia. Mr. Djokovic has subsequently been granted a temporary visa to enter Australia.”

Djokovic will now gun for his record 10th Australian Open crown and will aim to match Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 major titles.

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