Topics: Cancellation by the Australian Border Force of Novak Djokovic’s visa.
TONY JONES: Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews. Good morning, Minister.
KAREN ANDREWS: Good morning, Tony. How are you?
TONY JONES: A little confused. I’ve got to say, how did all this happen?
KAREN ANDREWS: Okay, so look, I’m happy to take you through the process in general, for anyone who is seeking to enter this country, because I think that will actually make it very clear.
TONY JONES: Yeah, but can we not do it specifically about Novak Djokovic?
KAREN ANDREWS: The same rules apply to him. So what I’m going to tell you is what applies to every single individual who seeks to enter this country. Firstly, they must have a valid visa and that is provided to them through the Department of Home Affairs. So you need a valid visa. You also need to meet – quite separately – entry requirements into Australia. Now, those at the moment include that before you travel to this country – three days before you are uplifted, you need to have provided a negative PCR test. You also need to fill in and complete your Australia Travel Declaration and you need to provide proof that you have been fully vaccinated. If an individual arriving is not fully vaccinated, they have to provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Now, those are the requirements that need to be met, and I understand there is a lot of confusion about how a visa was granted in the first place, but that is an entirely separate process.
TONY JONES: Okay, so where did it go wrong for Novak Djokovic? Out of that list of discrepancies that can have your visa sort of torn up. Where did it go wrong for Novak Djokovic? Which part of that did he not do?
KAREN ANDREWS: Yes, and I understand the interest in the specific detail of this. What I can tell you is – and I go back to what the Australian Border Force issued in their statement this morning – he was unable to provide appropriate evidence to meet those entry requirements. So I understand that there’s been a lot of talk over the various airwaves and through various chats about what that process should be. But it is proof of vaccination that people have to make sure they have for entry into this country, and if you do not have proof of vaccination, you have to have acceptable proof that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. I can be quite specific about what that information should include. So if you’re claiming a medical contraindication, what you need to have is a document that sets out the traveller’s name, what the detail is of their doctor, when the date of consultation actually took place, and details are very clearly set out that that traveller cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. That’s what the requirement is. It applies to Mr Djokovic. It applies to every single person seeking to enter this country.
TONY JONES: Okay, so would that not have been ticked off prior to him actually boarding the flight out here?
KAREN ANDREWS: We have a multi-layered approach to making sure that those requirements are met. So it checks that are at check-in – checks in relation to the Australia Travel Declaration – and then checks by Border Force on arrival. So the process is set up so that it will make sure that we have maximum security for our borders, which is entirely appropriate. On arrival, documents are checked; everyone who comes into Australia is subject to potential checks by Border Force. So what I can tell you is that every single person who comes in may well be required to produce those documents for the Australian Border Force.
TONY JONES: Okay, so if things don’t go his way from a legal point of view – I know we’re talking hypotheticals here, we can generalise if you like – if a person in a situation like that is turned around and put on another flight, is that officially classified as a deportation?
KAREN ANDREWS: Look, I think the point is that if the person does not have a valid visa to remain in Australia, they are required to leave.
TONY JONES: And is that classed as a deportation?
KAREN ANDREWS: Look ultimately it could go down that process. We’re working to facilitate the departure of individuals as the need arrives in a very timely manner. The expectation is that they depart at the earliest opportunity.
TONY JONES: And does that have long-term ramifications for someone like Novak Djokovic, if you’re actually turned around and sent back home, does that have a long-term ramification? Is your card stamped?
KAREN ANDREWS: Look at any time people can re-apply for a visa to come into Australia that will be assessed on its merits. If a visa is cancelled, things that will be taken into account are the reasons for that cancellation. As you would be aware, some visas are cancelled for a whole range of reasons, but if you apply for a visa to come into Australia, they will still need to meet the entry requirements that apply at the time they are seeking entry into Australia.
TONY JONES: Okay. But just to clarify if he is sent home, in future when he applies for a visa to come to Australia, the situation he’s in at the moment will be taken into account when it comes to approving that visa will it?
KAREN ANDREWS: In terms of the history? Yes. But I can’t give an answer as to whether or not a future visa would be granted. It will be assessed on its merits.
TONY JONES: Okay. So one of the things that we’ve been trying to establish here this morning is who’s to blame here. Is there anyone to blame? Is it a Federal Government issue? Is it a State government issue, or is it just an administrative issue on the part of Novak Djokovic?
KAREN ANDREWS: It’s the individual traveller’s responsibility to complete and provide all of the information they are required for entry into Australia. That includes providing all the documentation that they need to, and it’s the individual’s issue to be able to do that.
TONY JONES: What do you think this has done to Australia’s reputation on the world stage?
KAREN ANDREWS: I think it sends a very clear signal that we have strong border protection policies in place here, and that as the Government, we have always made it clear that we will determine who comes here and what their entry requirements will be. All we are doing, is enforcing the situation and the rules and the laws that exist for everyone who is seeking entry into this country
TONY JONES: Okay. So where is Novak Djokovic now?
KAREN ANDREWS: Look, I can’t disclose that.
TONY JONES: Well, I mean, I don’t want an exact address, but he’s in a quarantine hotel and immigration facility.
KAREN ANDREWS: Look, I really can’t go there in terms of where he currently is at this point in time, and I just need you to understand that.
TONY JONES: Yeah. No, that’s okay. I fully appreciate that. Okay. Well, Minister, thanks for taking us through the process there. As to why, so I think I’m fair and assuming that it’s all come down to his medical exemption and things just didn’t match up.
KAREN ANDREWS: He was unable to provide the information that was needed for him to fulfil the entry requirements. I’ve gone through those very clearly with what they are and what is required of any individual coming into this country.
TONY JONES: Okay. All right. Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.