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Australia live news updates: Novak Djokovic court hearing begins; Victoria reports 23 Covid deaths and NSW 20 Australia live news updates: Novak Djokovic case before court; Victoria reports 23 Covid deaths and NSW 20
(32 minutes later)
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And we are done. The hearing for today is finished. We are waiting to see the application and submissions from Novak Djokovic’s legal team – due by midday, and the government’s submissions – by 10pm tonight.
There, we will see the arguments that are going to be put forward for Djokovic staying in the country (why the minister’s decision to cancel his visa was unreasonable), and the government’s case for removing him.
We know some of what the government will argue – that Djokovic’s continued presence in the country has the potential to “excite anti-vaccination sentiment” in Australia. It was argued in court on Friday that kicking him out of the country would do much the same (but that doesn’t establish the minister’s decision was unreasonable).
The judge is going to consider ordering the matter before the full bench of the federal court (three judges) and will advise today on that.
Tasmania has recorded 1,139 new Covid cases. Twenty-two people are in hospital and one person is in intensive care.
Most of those positives came from rapid antigen tests, and just 255 from PCR tests.
Chief health officer Paul Kelly has been talking about the potential for a fourth booster shot at a press conference:
Health minister Greg Hunt was also there. He said:
The Novak Djokovic “debacle” is an embarrassment that could have been avoided, Labor leader Anthony Albanese said this morning. He said it was “characteristic” of the Morrison government:
We’re underway. Justice David O’Callaghan has raised the possibility of Djokovic’s hearing tomorrow coming before a full court of three judges in the federal court, rather than being heard by a single judge.
“A full court can be convened commencing tomorrow morning,” the judge said.
Djokovic’s legal team is happy for the matter to come before a full court, three judges. The immigration minister opposes a full court hearing.
We are about to get underway in the federal court. Novak Djokovic’s attempt to stay in the country has been brought before a new judge, Justice David O’Callaghan, this morning.We are about to get underway in the federal court. Novak Djokovic’s attempt to stay in the country has been brought before a new judge, Justice David O’Callaghan, this morning.
A final outcome is not expected today (though nothing would surprise in this case). Today’s hearing will deal with Djokovic’s transfers between meetings with border force officials, his lawyers and detention, and any procedural matters concerning the hearing, which will take place tomorrow.A final outcome is not expected today (though nothing would surprise in this case). Today’s hearing will deal with Djokovic’s transfers between meetings with border force officials, his lawyers and detention, and any procedural matters concerning the hearing, which will take place tomorrow.
But we are expecting submissions from Djokovic’s lawyers today, which will outline his case to stay in the country. Essentially, he has to argue why the immigration minister’s decision to exclude him from the country on public health grounds is unreasonable.But we are expecting submissions from Djokovic’s lawyers today, which will outline his case to stay in the country. Essentially, he has to argue why the immigration minister’s decision to exclude him from the country on public health grounds is unreasonable.
For those playing along at home:For those playing along at home:
Strap in, folks. Novak Djokovic v minister for immigration, citizenship, migrant services and multicultural affairs is about to get underway in the federal court of Australia in Melbourne. Ben Doherty is going to be keeping you updated.Strap in, folks. Novak Djokovic v minister for immigration, citizenship, migrant services and multicultural affairs is about to get underway in the federal court of Australia in Melbourne. Ben Doherty is going to be keeping you updated.
Ahead of Novak Djokovic’s last-ditch legal bid to stay in Australia to defend his Australian Open title, his homeland Serbia has swung behind him in vociferous support.Ahead of Novak Djokovic’s last-ditch legal bid to stay in Australia to defend his Australian Open title, his homeland Serbia has swung behind him in vociferous support.
A court hearing in the Federal Court begins in less than half an hour. We are expecting to see submissions from Djokovic’s legal team on why he should be allowed to stay in the country before lunchtime.A court hearing in the Federal Court begins in less than half an hour. We are expecting to see submissions from Djokovic’s legal team on why he should be allowed to stay in the country before lunchtime.
On Instagram, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić said the world number one was being harassed by the Australian government for its own political advantage:On Instagram, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić said the world number one was being harassed by the Australian government for its own political advantage:
In nationalistic overtones, Vucic said Serbia would continue to defend Djokovic:In nationalistic overtones, Vucic said Serbia would continue to defend Djokovic:
Serbia’s royal family also spoke out in defence of their “brave brother”. Prince Filip and Princess Danica Karađorđević, are the son and daughter-in-law of Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, the Belgrade-based Crown Prince of Yugoslavia:Serbia’s royal family also spoke out in defence of their “brave brother”. Prince Filip and Princess Danica Karađorđević, are the son and daughter-in-law of Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, the Belgrade-based Crown Prince of Yugoslavia:
Michael McGowan has taken a look at New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet’s hectic start:Michael McGowan has taken a look at New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet’s hectic start:
And here are the Victorian Covid case numbers: 23 people have died, and there are 115 people in intensive care. There were 25,526 positive cases, 12,857 of those results are from rapid antigen tests.And here are the Victorian Covid case numbers: 23 people have died, and there are 115 people in intensive care. There were 25,526 positive cases, 12,857 of those results are from rapid antigen tests.
“Although Angus Taylor’s interest in Jam Land is through an indirect shareholding, it puts him in the unusual position of being connected to a case challenging the decision of one of his government’s own ministers,” Lisa Cox and Anne Davies write:“Although Angus Taylor’s interest in Jam Land is through an indirect shareholding, it puts him in the unusual position of being connected to a case challenging the decision of one of his government’s own ministers,” Lisa Cox and Anne Davies write:
Shared without comment.Shared without comment.
Here are today’s Covid numbers from New South Wales. Twenty lives lost, those poor families. There were 48,768 cases, 21,748 of them from rapid antigen tests.Here are today’s Covid numbers from New South Wales. Twenty lives lost, those poor families. There were 48,768 cases, 21,748 of them from rapid antigen tests.
NSW Health says almost 16,000 of those rapid test results are from the past week. They also say there may be some doubling up of numbers, where people have had a rapid test and a PCR test. It’s getting harder to understand the meaning of these numbers.NSW Health says almost 16,000 of those rapid test results are from the past week. They also say there may be some doubling up of numbers, where people have had a rapid test and a PCR test. It’s getting harder to understand the meaning of these numbers.
Hillsong church says the singing and dancing at their youth summer camp bears no resemblance to a music festival. This is Sian Cain’s piece from yesterday – somehow I’d missed seeing the video footage.
Oh yeah, totally doesn’t look anything like a music festival:
Have any of you ditched your car? I’m thinking about it. Shelley Hepworth has written about her experiences with a car-sharing app – it sounds more complicated than I thought:
Immigration officials are interviewing Novak Djokovic now in Melbourne, ahead of that 10.15am hearing.
Serbia’s foreign ministry earlier said Djokovic had been “lured to Australia to be humiliated”.
It said: “Novak Djokovic is not a criminal, terrorist or illegal migrant, but he was treated that way by the Australian authorities, which is causing understandable indignation of his fans and citizens of Serbia.”
Meanwhile, in Belgrade ... Novak Djokovic’s very enthusiastic fans have reacted to his second visa cancellation.
To some of them, Djokovic is a “symbol of the free world”, and the situation is “shameful”.
But while Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, denounced it as a “political witch-hunt”, there are signs the government is starting to distance itself from the player, Jon Henley writes:
“Double-dose vaccination rates among people with disability may be as low as 50% in some regional and remote local government areas,” Luke Henriques-Gomes writes:
While close contacts around the country have been allowed to go back to work after the federal government pushed for more relaxed isolation rules, a South Australian meatworks went further.
People who were Covid positive were allowed to go back to work. Peter Hannam writes:
Extraordinary. Read all about it here:
Police are preparing for “intense protests” at Old Parliament House today, AAP reports.
The so-called sovereign citizens movement has been encroaching on the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra and causing trouble ever since that fire was lit against the doors of Old Parliament House in December.
I’ll keep an eye on it and let you know what happens.
The legendary Malcolm Farr has cast an eagle eye over the Novak Djokovic saga, and prime minister Scott Morrison’s role in it.
Some more details on this morning’s court hearing for Novak Djokovic – we’ll be bringing it to you as it happens:
Good morning, and welcome to your weekend. On the news front, it’s sure to be a relaxing ride. There’s not much going on, is there?
Oh, wait.
Late yesterday we heard tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa was cancelled – again.
After a week of tortuous twists and turns, the immigration minister, Alex Hawke, cancelled it “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.
The world’s No 1 player is expected to be interviewed by immigration officials in Melbourne at 8am. He is then expected to be returned to immigration detention.
A hearing on the matter is listed in the federal court at 10.15am. A final result is expected on Sunday afternoon.
The Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, has accused the Australian government of “harassing” and “maltreating” Djokovic. Djokovic’s former coach and mentor, Niki Pilic, described the situation as “shameful” and said Djokovic was being treated like a “criminal.”
In the meantime, here’s Paul Karp’s take.
We’ll bring you the latest Covid figures, even if the case numbers have somewhat lost their connection to reality, and we’re keeping an eye on shortages of ... frankly, everything, including common sense on some fronts.
And as always, I’ll try to find some nuggets of joy (or weirdness) to sprinkle through the news.