‘Dangerous in a democracy’: Civil rights groups’ alarm at government’s Djokovic case | paulsakka
was weak and could create a precedent to block travellers with undesirable political views who pose no real risk to the community.by the tennis world No.1 in April 2020, before COVID-19 vaccines were created, in which he said he was “opposed to vaccination” but was “no expert”, had an “open mind” and wanted “an option to choose what’s best for my body”.
“Do the comments in 2020 disentitle him from playing a tennis game in Australia in 2022?” she said. “Does that really pose such a threat to public health in a situation where we’ve got 95 per cent of the adult population vaccinated? It was also ironic that the government’s attempt to remove Djokovic had given his views a week of international attention, he said. “They have magnified the anti-vax voice.”Luis Ascui
Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns, SC, a barrister experienced in migration cases, said the government would be justified in blocking Djokovic if he was coming to Australia to spruik anti-vaccination views. “But he’s coming here to play tennis, and his views [on vaccination] are somewhat muddied,” he said.
Ms Wright said the new reasoning used by Mr Hawke “smacked of arbitrariness” and highlighted the undue extent of the minister’s discretionary powers. Ms Zogovic accused the government of playing politics and sent the tennis pro the following message: “Nole [Djokovic’s nickname], the only way they could stop you from winning that 21st grand slam is to not let you play at all.”“A lot of people are confused about the legal system now here in Australia,” Mr Bendjo said.