Interesting article.
Smoking gun emerges in Novak Djokovic debacle
From the article:
A leaked document from Tennis Australia (TA) has reportedly shown that the organisation wrongly informed unvaccinated players they could enter the country for the Australian Open if they had caught Covid within the last six months.
That is despite the Federal Government informing Tennis Australia that prior infections were not covered in its guidelines for medical exemptions.
Letters from Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt sent to TA in November allegedly show the governing body was aware of this caveat before giving players what is believed to be incorrect advice the following month.
The letter was sent after Mr Hunt wrote to TA CEO Craig Tiley at the end of November to say a recent infection would not grant players an exemption.
“The Australian Border Force has advised that people must be fully vaccinated, as defined by ATAGI (the national advisory body on vaccines) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia,” Mr Hunt wrote.
“In relation to your specific questions, I can confirm that people who contracted Covid-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved or recognised vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.”
Mr Hunt specifically reiterated to Mr Tiley that “major sporting events” were at the mercy of “relevant jurisdiction” and that Tennis Australia should be ensuring they are working alongside Australian Border Force officials to ensure players were eligible to enter.
“We encourage travellers to consult the requirements the state or territory they wish to enter to compete in the Australian Open and summer series lead-in events, to ensure they can meet the relevant entry requirements,” he wrote.
“I encourage sporting organisations, including Tennis Australia, to continue to work with the Australian Border Force, state and territory health authorities and venues on Covid-safe plans for events, including for international travel where this is relevant.”
It is not known whether Mr Tiley had communicated this to Djokovic or his team prior to the Serbian’s attempt to enter the country.
Tennis Australia, which has yet to issue a statement on Djokovic’s deportation, has been contacted for comment.