Novak Djokovic will be “on the next plane home” if his evidence for a Covid-19 vaccination exemption to play at the
Australian Open is not satisfactory, the Australian Prime Minister has warned.
Novak Djokovic announced yesterday he was traveling to Australia for the Australian Open after being awarded an exemption for mandatory vaccination. Djokovic did not disclose how he got it while Tennis Australia announced in their own statement that Djokovic passes a rigorous check in order to obtain one.
Even so, Djokovic still might not play at the event as he will still need to comply with the rules of entering Australia. The rules are quite strict for unvaccinated people as they need to have 'a very good reason' for not being able to take the vaccine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said:
"Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our border requirements. He has to because if he's not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable
proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and to be able
to access the same travel arrangements, as fully vaccinated travellers."
He further said:
"So
we await his presentation and what evidence he provides to support
that. 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."
A very interesting late development to the story that will have its conclusion fairly soon. We should know more when Djokovic lands in Australia.