Novak Djokovic visa battle live blog: D-day for detained tennis star as lawyers launch Federal Court appeal

Tim ClarkeThe West Australian
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Camera IconThe appeal hearing against the second cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s visa has begun. Credit: Herald Sun

Novak Djokovic’s highly-anticipated hearing has adjourned with a decision on his visa appeal expected today or tomorrow.

Djokovic’s team of lawyers made their last-ditch appeal before the Federal Court to stop the detained tennis star from being deported after an increasingly convoluted visa debacle that captured the world’s attention and divided a nation.

The player is due to play his first-round Australian Open match tomorrow.

Camera IconNovak Djokovic still faces uncertainty as to whether he can compete in the Australian Open. Credit: AAP

Last night the 20-time grand slam title winner spent his fifth night in a detention hotel in Melbourne after a Federal Government decision to cancel his visa for a second time.

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Immigration Minister Alex Hawke detailed his grounds for the cancellation, citing he believed it to be “in the public interest to do so”.

His full list of reasons was published as part of a 268-page affidavit released by the Federal Court on Saturday.

In it, Mr Hawke suggested the unvaccinated player’s presence during the Australian Open could encourage Australians to shun isolation rules and foster “anti-vaccination sentiment”.

This - he argued - could lead to civil unrest akin to previous anti-vaccination protests and fewer people getting their booster jab.

Djokovic’s lawyers briefly fronted the Federal Court on Saturday morning for a case management hearing ahead of today’s appeal.

The hearing began at 6.30am AWST and drew to a close just before midday.

RECAP THE DAY’S DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BLOG BELOW

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