Anthony Albanese took the opportunity to slam the Coalition’s handling of the detention of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic during the COVID-19 pandemic while speaking to media in Queensland today.
The prime minister was asked about Djokovic having told media he feels traumatised coming to Melbourne since the incident, and whether Albanese thought the tennis player was treated fairly in January 2022.
“I found it astonishing that in the lead-up to Christmas, Novak Djokovic was denied by the then-federal government the opportunity to see his Orthodox minister, priest during that period.
“That was something that I think was hard to justify.”
Djokovic had travelled to Australia claiming a medical exemption because he had recently had COVID-19.
This morning Djokovic told the Herald Sun he had had “a bit of trauma from three years ago” while going through immigration after landing in Australia for the Australian Open events since.
In contrast to Albanese, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan didn’t hit out at the former Coalition government when also asked about the issue at a media event in Melbourne this morning.
”Visas are a federal government decision and look, COVID was tough for all of us,” she said.
“It didn’t matter who you were and what you did. It was a tough time for all of us.”
Allan said she was more focused on the thousands of people flocking to Melbourne for this year’s Australian Open.
“The pandemic is behind us and what I’m focused on is supporting a great Australian Open for 2025.
“….Those decisions were made by the federal government at the time.”
When Djokovic’s appeal against the decision to deny him entry to Australia was denied in 2022, then-prime minister Scott Morrison welcomed the decision and said it was “time to get on with the Australian Open”.
“Strong borders are fundamental to the Australian way of life, as is the rule of law,” he said.
“Our government has always understood this and has been prepared to take the decisions and actions necessary to protect the integrity of our borders.”
