Canberra: Though a Federal Court Judge Anthony Kelly ruled in favour of Tennis star Novak Djokovic immediately releasing him from detention, still there are chances of his Australian visa cancellation.
Australia’s Minister of Immigration still has the power to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa to play in the Australian Open, following the success of the tennis player’s appeal against deportation earlier on Monday.
If Djokovic has his visa cancelled again by a minister, he will not be allowed to enter Australia for three years – which could see parties back in court once again.
However, after the verdict, government counsel Andrew Tran said the Federal Government will now consider its options, which includes Immigration minister Alex Hawke using his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa once again.
A spokesperson for the Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, released a statement on Monday evening:
Novak Djokovic had not been detained in Australia, according to the office of immigration minister Alex Hawke.
“Following today’s Federal Circuit and Family Court determination on a procedural ground, it remains within Immigration Minister Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr. Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C(3) of the Migration Act. The Minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
