COVID-19 and Tennis

[MARTINE]

Another bit of evidence fro twitter.
View attachment 268582

Can I use Monopoly money to buy stuff too?! I think it should be treated like money because it’s got numbers on paper and dollar signs and someone told me it real

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think that's a slight generalisation and exaggeration..... My UK family are cheering

Not The Times
Read a scathing double page spread at the lounge in LHR T5 this morning.

 

[Pushka]

Not The Times
Read a scathing double page spread at the lounge in LHR T5 this morning.

But which aspect are they scathing about? Border control are just doing their job. Feds were very clear to TA what the exemption requirements were. T A it seems, deliberately misled them.

People have been refused exemptions to visit relatives in their last days. Where was the fury then?

 

[MARTINE]

But which aspect are they scathing about? Border control are just doing their job. Feds were very clear to TA what the exemption requirements were. T A it seems, deliberately misled them.

People have been refused exemptions to visit relatives in their last days. Where was the fury then?

Where’s Craig and Jane?

 

[Anna]

For anyone interested in the Djokovic Federal Court proceedings the court file can be found here although not much has been filed yet or is available to view:

File details - applications for file

TLDR version - Novax filed his application late on Thursday with an affidavit. He had somehow since landing less than 24 hours earlier rustled up 2 QC's and 2 junior counsel to act for him including one whose surname Dragojlovic looks Serbian to me (sorry for stereotyping). His solicitors are Hall & Wilcox. The Commonwealth in contrast appears to have only been able on Thursday to marshal a single junior counsel to appear, but I would be amazed if they don't have silk too by now. The Commonwealth has apparently not yet filed any written response to the application. The hearing is at 10am on Monday and permission has been granted for any evidence to be given by videolink. Whether that means Novax from his room in immigration detention, or medical evidence from Serbia or somewhere else, or both, is unclear. Legal submissions also to be permitted by video but it's not clear why as all current counsel appear to be Vic based. (Maybe they are having their holidays interrupted? )

I am guessing but it looks like his application might strictly speaking be for an injunction against deportation. Guessing on the basis that Novax had to give an undertaking as to damages such as is routinely required from an injunction applicant.

Several lawyers will be having a very busy few days preparing for the hearing.

 

[MARTINE]

For anyone interested in the Djokovic Federal Court proceedings the court file can be found here although not much has been filed yet or is available to view:

File details - applications for file

TLDR version - Novax filed his application late on Thursday with an affidavit. He had somehow since landing less than 24 hours earlier rustled up 2 QC's and 2 junior counsel to act for him including one whose surname Dragojlovic looks Serbian to me (sorry for stereotyping). His solicitors are Hall & Wilcox. The Commonwealth in contrast appears to have only been able on Thursday to marshal a single junior counsel to appear, but I would be amazed if they don't have silk too by now. The Commonwealth has apparently not yet filed any written response to the application. The hearing is at 10am on Monday and permission has been granted for any evidence to be given by videolink. Whether that means Novax from his room in immigration detention, or medical evidence from Serbia or somewhere else, or both, is unclear. Legal submissions also to be permitted by video but it's not clear why as all current counsel appear to be Vic based. (Maybe they are having their holidays interrupted? )

I am guessing but it looks like his application might strictly speaking be for an injunction against deportation. Guessing on the basis that Novax had to give an undertaking as to damages such as is routinely required from an injunction applicant.

Several lawyers will be having a very busy few days preparing for the hearing.

He can stay there until his case is finalised
….no doubt a strategy could be ‘let him play whilst the legals are played out over the next few months’… which of course makes a mockery of the whole thing

 

[drron]

But which aspect are they scathing about? Border control are just doing their job. Feds were very clear to TA what the exemption requirements were. T A it seems, deliberately misled them.

People have been refused exemptions to visit relatives in their last days. Where was the fury then?

A few of us were furious.

 

[prozac]

We all know what Rafa said regards Novax position. Here is a reminder. Perhaps the Commonwealth legal team should introduce it to evidence that players are well informed.
Novax has only taken the legal route because there is so much at stake. With so much at stake you'd think he'd be smarter.

Don''t be stupid, be a smarty ... Mel Brooks

 

[Pushka]

A few of us were furious.

Sure. I remember. I'm thinking on a Govt level like the Serbs.

The concept of consequences of actions seems to have disappeared from many peoples thoughts these days.

 

[Lynda2475]

Novak probably accounts for majority of Serbias GDP

A spolit brat, under the misconception he is the greatest athlete, seriously? Im no tennis fan but there are 3 women who have won more grand slam singles titles than him, and if you conider Serena also has a stack of doubles wins, surely she has achieved more in the tennis world?

 

[MARTINE]

Novak probably accounts for majority of Serbias GDP

doesn’t he live in Monaco

 

[TheRealTMA]

doesn’t he live in Monaco

Of course. Spartacus doesn’t like to pay the taxes of mortals, obviously.

 

[dk4]

The original reports said his paper work was not in order and if such an exemption were to be given he would need to present some hard evidence and an approval from the Australian or a State Government that many in the Entertainment industry have been able to get.

OK. So perhaps ATAGI has been asked to participate in two different sets of advice.

• at a federal level, (international advice) for those who are unvaccinated, and their eligibility to enter Australia. [fed gov decision - basically past infection doesn't cut the mustard]
• at a state level, (domestic advice) for those who are unvaccinated, and want to participate at the tennis. [state gov decision - basically past infection in the last 6 months is eligible]

At some point potentially Tennis Australia (or participants) has become confused between the two sets of advice, and seen the domestic playing advice as seemingly international arrivals advice. (Plus maybe??! - the Victorian government, perhaps sensing bad publicity, withdrew any nomination for an exemption, if such existed?)

Well, if they make the court case take another 12 days or so, he'd be welcome.

Yeah, looks a lot like this the the "out" that someone is trying to fix for him, although obviously his legal team thinks there are potentially other avenues to investigate, given the conflict in advice.

 

[VPS]

But which aspect are they scathing about? Border control are just doing their job. Feds were very clear to TA what the exemption requirements were. T A it seems, deliberately misled them.

People have been refused exemptions to visit relatives in their last days. Where was the fury then?

I have a subscription to the UK Times and there were quite a few varying opinions as always

 

[Pushka]

OK. So perhaps ATAGI has been asked to participate in two different sets of advice.

• at a federal level, (international advice) for those who are unvaccinated, and their eligibility to enter Australia. [fed gov decision - basically past infection doesn't cut the mustard]
• at a state level, (domestic advice) for those who are unvaccinated, and want to participate at the tennis. [state gov decision - basically past infection in the last 6 months is eligible]

At some point potentially Tennis Australia (or participants) has become confused between the two sets of advice, and seen the domestic playing advice as seemingly international arrivals advice. (Plus maybe??! - the Victorian government, perhaps sensing bad publicity, withdrew any nomination for an exemption, if such existed?)



Yeah, looks a lot like this the the "out" that someone is trying to fix for him, although obviously his legal team thinks there are potentially other avenues to investigate, given the conflict in advice.

Hunts letter would seem to confirm the Federal Level requirements which actually gets him into the country. As that appears the strict criteria then the state level criteria is moot.

 

[MARTINE]

Hunts letter would seem to confirm the Federal Level requirements which actually gets him into the country. As that appears the strict criteria then the state level criteria is moot.

Is ignorance (of the ultimate legal authority ie Hunts clear direction) ever a robust defence even if obfuscated by miscommunication?
I will be interested in the terms of his visa that allowed him to get on the plane ??
Option 1 on arrival - unvaxed -go to quarantine (clearly defined by ATAGI)
Option 2- vaxed - welcome
Maybe his legal team is arguing Option 3 - ‘I’m special and options 1 and 2 are for other people’

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Do people think a 'practical' defence might work with this judge to get Djokovic into Australia to play?

Something along the lines of he's been in detention for say 7 days, which is the amount of time a positive person would need to isolate. Since a positive person who is asymptomatic would be allowed into the community, then let Mr Djokovic (provided still asymptomatic) in to play.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

But which aspect are they scathing about? Border control are just doing their job. Feds were very clear to TA what the exemption requirements were. T A it seems, deliberately misled them.

People have been refused exemptions to visit relatives in their last days. Where was the fury then?

I think its dangerous to label it deliberate. Definitely a mistake, but cannot show yet deliberate.

Not a lawyer but probably negligent?!?! Letter there is black and white, but not given is subsequent info given to players.

I do wonder what caused the misinformation to occur. As someone has suggested perhaps confusion as to the purpose of the exemption (to play) v exemption (to enter).

 

[MARTINE]

Do people think a 'practical' defence might work with this judge to get Djokovic into Australia to play?

Something along the lines of he's been in detention for say 7 days, which is the amount of time a positive person would need to isolate. Since a positive person who is asymptomatic would be allowed into the community, then let Mr Djokovic (provided still asymptomatic) in to play.

Aaah - the quasi quarantine defence…
I certainly hope not

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Another thing is if 14 days is waited out, could the judge then say the quarantine period is waited out and allow Djokovic in. Tennis Australia could accommodate by making his first round match on day 15 (a Thursday?!?!).