Australian Open 2022 – Australian PM Warns Djokovic: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared that Novak Djokovic will have to prove that his “MEDICAL EXEMPTION from VACCINATION is genuine”. Morrison did not stop at that. He has further warned the World No. 1 that if he cant prove the status he will be “on the next plane home”. Follow AO2022 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
Also Read: Australian Open 2022: Double standards by the organizers, World No.1 Novak Djokovic…
Australian Open 2022: Australian PM’s stern warning for Novak Djokovic, ‘provide evidence for VACCINATION-EXEMPTION or will be sent back home’
“There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all, none whatsoever.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says if the world number one doesn’t have “evidence” justifying his vaccine exemption for the Open tournament, “he’ll be on the next plane home”. pic.twitter.com/MRGXQJ9EuB
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 5, 2022
Australian PM Warns Djokovic: Tennis Australia and the Victorian state government said Djokovic was one of a “handful” of successful applicants among 26 people who sought exemptions from being vaccinated. According to the organizers the Serb has not received any special treatment in the anonymous application process.
“We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that,”, Morrison told a media conference.
“If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”
Why Djoko can be sent home? The federal government, which has responsibility for international borders and visas, was not part of the exemption process. Morrison said there had been numerous exemptions granted to people who had been able to support their application.
“So the circumstances are not unique, the issue is whether he has sufficient evidence to support that he would qualify for that exception,” he said.
Australian Open 2022: Australian PM’s stern warning for Novak Djokovic, ‘provide evidence for VACCINATION-EXEMPTION or will be sent back home’
Australian PM Warns Djokovic: The decision to grant Djokovic an exemption to the tournament sparked sharp criticism in Australia, where more than 90% of people over 16 have had two vaccine doses against COVID-19.
Melbourne had the world’s longest cumulative lockdown to contain COVID, and an outbreak of the Omicron variant has sent case numbers to record levels.
“I think lots of people in the Victorian community will find this to be a disappointing outcome,” acting Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford told a media conference earlier on Wednesday after news of Djokovic’s exemption.
“But the process is the process; nobody has had special treatment. The process is incredibly robust.”
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said the two-stage application process was confidential and run by independent experts. All applications were assessed to ensure any exemptions met conditions set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Australian Open 2022: Australian PM’s stern warning for Novak Djokovic, ‘provide evidence for VACCINATION-EXEMPTION or will be sent back home’
Tiley said those reasons included previous adverse response to vaccines, recent major surgery or myocarditis or certified evidence of a COVID infection in the previous six months.
The Serbian, who had declined to reveal his vaccination status, said previously that he was unsure whether he would compete at the Jan. 17-30 tournament in Melbourne due to concerns over Australia’s quarantine rules. ”
“We completely understand and empathise with … people being upset about the fact that Novak has come in because of his statements over the past couple of years around vaccination,” Tiley told reporters.
“However it is ultimately up to him to discuss with the public his condition, if he chooses to do that, and the reasons why he received an exemption.”
Australian Open 2022: Australian PM’s stern warning for Novak Djokovic, ‘provide evidence for VACCINATION-EXEMPTION or will be sent back home’
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