Home Affairs reveal legal costs involved with Djokovic Australian Open saga

During a Senate estimates hearing, the true cost of the Novak Djokovic Australian Open debacle was initially revealed.

Estimated to be $360,000, this is not the final figure, with it not taking into account further legal costs.

The Department of Home Affairs was ordered to pay legal costs for the first court hearing in which the original cancellation of Djokovic's visa was quashed.

“Hopefully they’ll net out to zero,” said Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo.

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“The combined estimate at this stage was in the vicinity of $360,000 without any awards going either way,” said the department's legal group manager, Pip De Veau.

“That includes external legal expenses and legal expenses internally.

“Costs were awarded against the department in the first proceedings, costs were awarded for the department in the second.

“We’ll need to get the invoices and make the determination in consultation with Mr Djokovic’s lawyers as to how those two cost orders are sorted out.”