Australia confirms Novak Djokovic is banned from the country for THREE YEARS as Prime Minister takes a brutal swipe at the tennis superstar after his dramatic late-night deportation and his dad labels saga an 'ASSASSINATION'
Novak Djokovic flew overnight to Dubai after being deported from Australia
The tennis champion spent 11 days unsuccessfully battling to maintain his visa
The controversial court decision has sparked fury among the world no. 1's fans
The Home Affairs Minister confirmed he will be banned for three years
Civil rights advocates fear the legal case sets a worrying precedent for visitors
They argue anyone with 'undesirable' political views could now be deported
But the decision has been praised by many Australians and by PM Scott Morrison
The Prime Minister said he 'welcomed the decision to keep our borders strong'
By BRETT LACKEY and TITA SMITH FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 16:11 EST, 16 January 2022 | UPDATED: 18:20 EST, 16 January 2022
Novak Djokovic will be banned from entering Australia for three years after his visa cancellation was upheld, the Federal Government has confirmed.
In an interview with the Today Show on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed the years-long ban was the outcome of the court decision.
'The visa was cancelled by [Immigration] Minister Hawke,' Ms Andrews said.
'That cancellation was upheld by the Federal Court, so as a result of that, he will be banned from entry for three years into the country.'
Ms Andrews said should Djokovic return to Australia with compelling reasons in the future 'that may be looked at but that's all hypothetical at this point.'
Djokovic left Australia late on Sunday night after 11 days of remarkable legal wrangling saw the tennis champion finally exhaust his options, with the full bench of the Federal Court siding with Minister Hawke.
He was escorted to Melbourne Airport by police on Sunday evening and boarded an Emirates flight to Dubai about 10.30pm, and will transit on to Spain.
Djokovic (pictured with team at Melbourne Airport on Sunday night) organised to leave Australia within hours of losing his appeal
Novak Djokovic is escorted through Melbourne Airport on Sunday night (pictured centre)
The prominent Belgrade Tower in the Serbian capital was lit up with Djokovic's nickname 'Nole' overnight (pictured)
The controversial decision was met with shock by his fans, family and politicians back in Serbia, with Djokovic's outraged father labelling it an 'assassination attempt' against his son and President Aleksandar Vucic accused Australian officials of 'lying'.
But Scott Morrison, and millions of Australians, supported the move, with the prime minister saying he 'welcomed the decision to keep our borders strong'.
He did add that despite the three-year ban there could be room for the tennis ace to travel back to Australia.
'It does go over a three-year period but there is the opportunity for them to return in the right circumstances, and that will be considered at the time'.
Mr Morrison was also forced to dismiss bizarre claims by the Serbian president that the tennis superstar's prolonged stints in immigration detention amounted to 'physical torture'.
'Well, it's very clear that Australia has not tortured Mr Djokovic.' Mr Morrison told 2GB on Monday.
Djokovic lost his last-ditch bid to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open on Sunday after three federal court judges unanimously ruled he did not have grounds to dispute Mr Hawke's visa cancellation.
The 34-year-old, who has been ordered to pay the federal government's legal costs, said he was 'extremely disappointed' with the court's decision to dismiss his application but that he respected its ruling.
AFP officers stand nearby as tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (pictured back right) sits ands waits for his flight out of Australia
Ms Andrews on Monday acknowledged there were some 'issues' around the interview process after the world No.1 was stopped at Melbourne Airport but Djokovic was not entitled to enter the country - despite being granted a visa before arriving.
'Anyone coming into Australia it is their responsibility that they are meeting the entry requirements... just because you have a valid visa does not guarantee you will be able to enter Australia,' she said.
'What was given to Mr Djokovic on arrival in Australia - before he cleared our immigration processes - was the opportunity to be able to produce the documentation that was needed, which he could not.'
'He wasn't fully-vaccinated, which is a requirement. If you are not you have to be able to provide medical evidence to support there is a medical reason why you can't be vaccinated - that was the issue at the border.'
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