- Australians are furious about
Novak Djokovic 's entry into theAustralian Open . - Djokovic has gained a medical exemption to play in the tournament, despite not being vaccinated.
Many Australians are furious that Novak Djokovic has been given a medical exemption that will allow him to enter the country and play at the Australian Open despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19, saying that is unfair after facing almost two years of lockdowns and strict travel rules.
The Serbian's participation in the tournament, which he has won a record nine times and starts later this month, had been the subject of speculation due to his refusal to publicly disclose his vaccination status.
However, on Tuesday he announced that he was en route to Melbourne having been granted an exemption allowing him to play, effectively confirming that he is not vaccinated.
The reason for his vaccine exemption has not been publicly disclosed, however the Australian Open said in a statement shared with Insider that Djokovic was granted the exemption "following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts."
The news of Djokovic's dispensation has been met with huge backlash from fellow tennis players and Australian officials, as well as the Australian public.
Australia has spent much of the last 22 months going in and out of strict lockdowns, with stay at home orders, quarantine, and curfews being rolled out across the country.
While 91.6% of Australia's over-16 population is now fully vaccinated against COVID, many people still cannot travel between states or globally because of the current measures.
"What we find so frustrating about Djokovic's vaccine exemption is that if you're a celebrity, rich or, yes, a
"None more obvious than throughout 2020 and 2021 when actors and sportspeople were allowed to fly into the country at the expense of stranded citizens abroad."
Last year, a number of celebrities including Zac Efron, Mark Wahlberg, and Caitlyn Jenner, flew to Australia — which at the time had relaxed its rules — to escape the escalating pandemic in the United States.
During the influx of stars, over 40,000 Australians remained stranded overseas, over a year after the country had first shut its borders.
"Now as a vaccinated country — who only allow those overseas to enter if double vaxxed — Australia yet again appears to cut the red tape for public figures," continued Peppin.
"In Melbourne, where the Australian Open is being held, all attendees aged 12 years and or older must also be fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption.
"It's a slap in the face to businesses, health care workers, and the general public that a tennis player can get away with something the government has enforced."
Hannah Connell, a Melbourne native who now lives in the UK, echoed Peppin's comments.
"Djokovic should not be treated differently to anyone else," Connell, who, despite being fully vaccinated, says she had to apply for an exemption to leave Australia and was unable to return for three months once she had done so, told Insider.
"During the peak of the pandemic there were Australians who had done the right thing, had their vaccinations and were denied entry into their own country when attempting to return home to say their final goodbyes to loved ones.
"The government provided no empathy or support [for those people] so to allow Djokovic an exemption to play tennis is completely unfair."
Connell and Peppin's sentiments were echoed by hundreds of Australians online, as well as by local media outlets.
Djokovic could yet be turned away, however
While he has been given a vaccine exemption by the Australian Open, Djokovic has been warned that his passage through the country's borders is not guaranteed, and is seemingly facing problems entering the country.
Australian media reported Wednesday that Djokovic is currently in Melbourne airport, but has not yet been permitted entry to the country after it emerged he had the wrong kind of visa.
According to The Age, Djokovic has a visa that does not allow for medical exemptions from being vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning he cannot yet enter Australia.
Member of Parliament Jaala Pulford tweeted to say that the federal government would "not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam."
—Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 4, 2022
Before Djokovic's arrival, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the 34-year-old would be put on the "next plane home" if his evidence for a COVID-19 vaccination exemption was not sufficient.
"He has to because if he's not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and to be able to access the same travel arrangements, as fully vaccinated travelers," Morrison said.
"So we await his presentation and what evidence he provides to support that. If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else."
The country's Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews, has also said the Serb won't be afforded any "special treatment" when he landed in Melbourne.
"Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our strict border requirements,' Andrews said in a statement on Wednesday.