Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew has shared a tongue-in-cheek response to news that Novak Djokovic‘s visa has been cancelled, following a visa mix-up that could derail his hopes of defending his Australian Open title.
The Serbian tennis ace, 34, was detained at Melbourne Airport overnight in a guarded room and grilled by Border Force officials until 5am after landing in Australia about 11pm on Wednesday.
The star’s visa was subsequently cancelled and he is due to be deported from Australia later on Thursday.
Seeing the humour: Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew (left) has shared a tongue-in-cheek response to news that Novak Djokovic’s (right) visa has been cancelled, following a visa mix-up that could derail his hopes of defending his Australian Open title
Bartholomew, who previously criticised Djokovic vaccine exemption, couldn’t resist sharing a playful Tweet on Wednesday morning after learning of the tennis No. 1’s fate.
‘I look forward to the video for Border Force,’ she mused, referring to the Channel Seven reality show Border Security: Australia’s Front Line.
The popular program follows customs and immigration officials as they defend Australia against perils such as undeclared seafood, improperly packaged peanuts and dodgy travellers.
‘I look forward to the video for Border Force’: Bartholomew joked that she couldn’t wait to see footage of Djokovic’s visa saga on an upcoming episode of Channel Seven reality show Border Security: Australia’s Front Line
Bartholomew’s post came a day after she blasted the decision to grant Djokovic a rare medical exemption at the Australian Open.
The presenter, who is an outspoken advocate for vaccination, said on Wednesday she understands why so many Australians are upset by the decision.
‘I think for so many people, particularly in Victoria, it’s the culmination of all of the frustration that we’ve been feeling not just for two years, but particularly over the last couple of weeks with all the delays in testing and not being able to see family,’ she said.
Outrage: Bartholomew’s post came a day after she blasted the decision to grant Djokovic a rare medical exemption at the Australian Open
Having her say: Bartholomew (centre left) who is an outspoken advocate for vaccination, said on Wednesday’s Sunrise she understands why so many Australians are upset by the decision
She also pointed out that exemptions from Covid rules are extremely hard to come by for ordinary Australians.
‘[There are] people who have not been able to get medical exemptions for their own families to see people who are dying!’ she said.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that Djokovic‘s visa has been cancelled and that the athlete will be deported back to Serbia unless he successfully fights it in court.
Djokovic was caught up in a late night visa bungle as he touched down in Melbourne about 11pm on Wednesday night
His team is understood to have applied for a type of visa that does not allow medical exemptions for the unvaccinated.
There are also believed to be issues with the controversial exemption itself, with questions about whether he has adequate proof to support it.
He is believed to have been issued an exemption on the grounds that he was infected with coronavirus in the past six months.
The world No.1 and prominent Covid vaccine sceptic now faces a difficult legal fight to stay in the country and keep his Australian Open title fight alive
However, though this may satisfy his entry into the tournament and Victoria, the federal government controls the international border and his exemption appears to not hold up under federal rules.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday morning said the federal government was not involved in the decision to approve Djokovic’s medical exemption.
The world No.1 and prominent Covid vaccine sceptic now faces a difficult legal fight to stay in the country and keep his Australian Open title fight alive.
Djokovic (pictured with wife Jelena in February 2019) is believed to have been issued an exemption on the grounds that he was infected with coronavirus in the past six months
Djokovic’s lawyers are gearing up to fight the visa cancellation in court, though it is not clear if the star player will stay in Australia during the case.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Djokovic’s visa had been cancelled on Thursday morning.
‘Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled.Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules,’ Mr Morrison wrote on Twitter
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Djokovic’s visa had been cancelled on Thursday morning, saying ‘rules are rules’
‘Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from Covid, we are continuing to be vigilant.’
Mr Hunt also confirmed the visa cancellation, and Border Force issued a statement to that effect.
‘The Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our laws and entry requirements,’ the force said.
‘The ABF can confirm that Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.
‘They’re holding my son captive’: Meanwhile, his father Srdjan Djokovic (pictured) has issued an urgent statement to the Australian government, asking them to free his son
‘Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia’The ABF can confirm Mr Djokovic had access to his phone.’
Meanwhile, his father Srdjan Djokovic has issued an urgent statement to the Australian government, asking them to free his son.
‘I have no idea what’s going on, they’re holding my son captive for five hours,’ he said. ‘This is not a fight for the libertarian world, this is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world!’ he said.
‘If they don’t let him go in half an hour, we will gather on the street, this is a fight for everybody.’
Meanwhile, there are growing calls for Djokovic to explain his reasons for his vaccination exemption.
Meanwhile, there are growing calls for Djokovic (pictured in Adelaide while quarantining for the 2021 Australian Open) to explain his reasons for his vaccination exemption
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