The embarrassing spectacle of the Novak Djokovic show trial drags on. All that has been aired in the trial so far merely confirms what seemed obvious enough from the start: the whole chaotic farce is almost certainly a political concoction. If nothing else, it exposes beyond doubt the Kafka-esque absurdity of Australia’s illogical maze of Covid rules.
For all the bleating of the Branch Covidians that he “shoulda followed our rools”, it seems plain that the tennis star did his best to do just that — but “the rules” are so bizarre and contradictory that even the best doctors and lawyers are no help.
The judge presiding over Djokovic’s case, Anthony Kelly, questioned what more the tennis player could have done to ensure his entry to Australia.
The court heard before and after arriving at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne, Mr Djokovic had a medical exemption from a professor and an “eminently qualified physician” to support his claim he had a medical contraindication to a COVID-19 vaccination.
He was also separately given an exemption by an independent expert panel established by the Victorian government, Judge Kelly said.
“The point I’m somewhat agitated about is what more could this man have done?” the judge said.
What he was supposed to do, the whole point of these punishing, opaque “rools”, is “get the jab”. The ruling mania of the Covid elite is that submitting to a vaccine that even its makers concede is little prophylactic against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is utterly non-negotiable. They’re not forcing anyone, mind you: it’s just that no-one can participate in public life if they don’t submit.
Not even tennis players — surely the least likely sport to transmit Covid imaginable. The idea that two players at opposite ends of a 40-metre court, well separated from officials and fans, are somehow going to transmit even a “tricky little virus” seems patently ludicrous.
Almost as ludicrous as “the rools”.
When he encountered issues in Melbourne, the court heard Mr Djokovic was mystified, saying words to the effect of,“If there has been an error, I don’t understand what it is” and he indicated he wanted to speak to a lawyer.
The Age
It’s some consolation to the world’s No. 1 tennis player that he has at least been freed from the Covid gulag. For now, anyway.
Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly has ordered ABF officials to transport Novak Djokovic to a location of his lawyers’ choosing for the duration of the hearing on Monday and any future hearings […]
The order signed by Judge Kelly states that the Minister must “take all steps and do all things as may be necessary to bring the applicant to premises as specified by the applicant’s solicitors” on Monday and other dates that the matter is sitting.
Djokovic must be allowed to remain with his lawyers “until the conclusion of each hearing and to secure his safe return to detention upon the conclusion of each hearing”.
The Australian
The news will likely be welcomed by the hundreds of supporters who’ve braved unseasonable rain to protest outside Djokovic’s detention hotel in Melbourne.
Whether the world No. 1 gets to play the Australian Open remains to be seen. Meanwhile officials at Rod Laver Arena have been filmed confiscating pro-Djokovic signs from attendees.
Latest
The case just keeps getting more bizarre.
The federal court has overturned the decision to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa, ordering the nine-time Australian Open winner be released from immigration detention within 30 minutes.
But if he thinks it’s over, he isn’t counting on the Australian government’s desperation to win votes by cashing in on public vindictiveness.
But Anthony Tran, representing the federal government, said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was considering using his discretionary power to cancel for a second time Djokovic’s visa.
Hawke, remember, is the same Immigration Minister who boasted about flying in 50,000 migrants, while 34,000 Australian citizens were locked out of the country.
Judge Kelly said if the government, through another minister, exercises a personal power to cancel the visa then Djokovic will not be permitted to return to Australia in three years.
He demanded that if the government decided to enact the powers that they have threatened, the court was entitled to be informed.
The Australian
Within hours of Djokovic’s court win, rumours were circulating that the government was upping the stakes dramatically, already re-arresting the tennis star. Government and tennis sources are denying the rumours.
Media reports from Europe quote Djokovic’s family members alleging he has been re-arrested at his lawyers’ office in Melbourne’s CBD.
However, the four sources including some from the federal government insist this isn’t the case.
There are no Border Force or federal police officers at the foot of the CBD tower Djokovic is located in.
The Age
As The Australian’s Jacquelin Magnay commented if the Australian government is going to behave in such a fashion, why have a court system?
Many conservative voters may well also be asking themselves, Why vote for a “conservative party” that refuses to respect the rule of law?
