Australian Open 2022

[greenmark]

This is becoming farcical.
"The 34-year-old Serb player's entry form stated he had not travelled in the 14 days before his arrival on 6 January.

Social media posts appear to show him in both Serbia and Spain during that fortnight.

Djokovic told border officials that Tennis Australia completed the Australian Travel Declaration on his behalf, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. It is not clear whether this would help him in the event it is challenged. "

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-59946900

Who filled the form in with inaccurate info is irrelevent. No?
Maybe the delay/legal wrangling is so he can be tested by the authorities and be negative and be allowed to stay.
Can't find anything on that scenario. Will he be deported if deemed to have failed the visa requirements last week or allowed to stay because he's had time for the govt to prove he doesn't have covid. Although he did (may have) on Dec 16th.

Sorry, actually I mean it is like a good old-fashioned farce. All we need now is a scantily-clad chamber maid rushing through from stage left.

[Trader Pat]

Who filled the form in with inaccurate info is irrelevent. No?

You'd imagine so.

Why would Tennis Australia be completing the travel declaration on his behalf in the first place? Don't top players have a team of people to do that stuff for them?

[Derek27]

Ditto

I make my money from gambling one way or another. Do you all know the destruction and harm this causes to other human beings. Young children going without food,homes being lost. If you can turn a blind eye to all this. But in the next breath moan about a bloke who doesn't want a vaccine. Good luck to you all karma don't discriminate. Exactly this ditto.

Glass houses and stones.

More than a bit of a stretch to compare the two.

The issue isn't that he's unvaxxed, it's that he potentially attended public events when he knew he was Covid positive. I think we've clearly made that point.

One of my best mates is unvaxxed and he has no intention of getting any jab but a few months ago he tested positive and had to self isolate. He did what he had to and stayed home, he didn't go out unmasked into crowded areas with no regard for anybody else just because he doesn't want to get vaccinated.

I think archiebaldy has a good point. We need to tell Betfair and the Gambling Commission that their crackdown on problem gambling is causing children to starve and people to lose their homes.

[Derek27]

It's just been revealed that Djokovic is actually a woman, and therefore not qualified to compete in the men's tournament.

[Trader Pat]

Tomic not happy with the standard of testing at the tournament. On a side not I can think of better ways to ask somebody out!

https://7news.com.au/sport/tennis/tomic ... -c-5264268

[Galilee66]

Someone asked for an Australian's opinion on this issue - so i will put my 2 cents worth in. I live in Melbourne so the issue has dominated the news for the last few days. The real problem in my opinion is that which has bedevilled Australia for years - I am 78 so I have been an interested observer for some years. Australian governments have for years failed to plan ahead, prepare long term policies and generally think through the possible exigencies that might occur. The general view has been "just dig it up (iron ore, gold and other minerals) and export it". The agricultural sector view is similar - "Make sure we buy (farm equipment, labour) at the lowest possible price and then governments should do all they can to ensure that we obtain the highest possible price for our produce." Their have been too many corporate scandals in Australia (think banks charging dead people life insurance) to have any great level of trust in the corporate sector.

The other problem that stands out is that Australia probably has the poorest crop of politians that I can remember in 60 years of observing politics at the state and federal level. Morrison is a buffoon who believes that spouting slogans will resolve all and any issues. The Labor leader Albanese is no better as he appears so afraid of upsetting anyone that he and his party approach each issue like timid mice to see what the prevailing view of the public might be before making any (half hearted) decision.

Other major contributors to the debacle we have in the Djokovic matter has been the politicisation of the issue and Tennis Australia's obvious view that the tennis is so important that it must include all the top players no matter what. Morrison was quite happy to leave the issue at the Victorian State Government's door until he sniffed the possibility of gaining some political advantage by suddenly becoing hairy chested about protecting Australia's borders. He should have recalled the old saying "If people think you are an idiot because you have remained quiet, why open your mouth and confirm their views." The Federal government is now in a no win situation - damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Anyway, the whole debacle has reflected very badly on Australia and give the appearance of utter incompetence. Full disclosure - I believe Djokovic should be deported as he appears to be unvaccinated. Very simple. I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

[jimibt]

Someone asked for an Australian's opinion on this issue - so i will put my 2 cents worth in. I live in Melbourne so the issue has dominated the news for the last few days. The real problem in my opinion is that which has bedevilled Australia for years - I am 78 so I have been an interested observer for some years. Australian governments have for years failed to plan ahead, prepare long term policies and generally think through the possible exigencies that might occur. The general view has been "just dig it up (iron ore, gold and other minerals) and export it". The agricultural sector view is similar - "Make sure we buy (farm equipment, labour) at the lowest possible price and then governments should do all they can to ensure that we obtain the highest possible price for our produce." Their have been too many corporate scandals in Australia (think banks charging dead people life insurance) to have any great level of trust in the corporate sector.

The other problem that stands out is that Australia probably has the poorest crop of politians that I can remember in 60 years of observing politics at the state and federal level. Morrison is a buffoon who believes that spouting slogans will resolve all and any issues. The Labor leader Albanese is no better as he appears so afraid of upsetting anyone that he and his party approach each issue like timid mice to see what the prevailing view of the public might be before making any (half hearted) decision.

Other major contributors to the debacle we have in the Djokovic matter has been the politicisation of the issue and Tennis Australia's obvious view that the tennis is so important that it must include all the top players no matter what. Morrison was quite happy to leave the issue at the Victorian State Government's door until he sniffed the possibility of gaining some political advantage by suddenly becoing hairy chested about protecting Australia's borders. He should have recalled the old saying "If people think you are an idiot because you have remained quiet, why open your mouth and confirm their views." The Federal government is now in a no win situation - damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Anyway, the whole debacle has reflected very badly on Australia and give the appearance of utter incompetence. Full disclosure - I believe Djokovic should be deported as he appears to be unvaccinated. Very simple. I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

nice summary and a very balanced and sensible closing sentence. good luck and hope you are still posting at 88

take care.

[gazuty]

One question. If Novak hadn’t contracted Covid in December what was his plan to get to Australia? Does seem quite serendipitous to pick up a positive pcr post getting the info from Tennis Australia.

[Trader Pat]

I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

Interesting you mention seatbelts, it was a little before my time when they became mandatory but public opinion seemed to be split on whether you should have to wear one or not. Amazing how humans would rather put themselves in potential danger than be told what to do even if its in their own best interests. Not much has changed since the 80's.

[sionascaig]

also an article that states he needed to have covid by 10th Dec (he claims 16th) to qualify for an exemption... looks like they made a special case for him.

[Trader Pat]

Every time somebody makes a statement it just raises more questions.

[Euler]

I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

Interesting you mention seatbelts, it was a little before my time when they became mandatory but public opinion seemed to be split on whether you should have to wear one or not. Amazing how humans would rather put themselves in potential danger than be told what to do even if its in their own best interests. Not much has changed since the 80's.

Human knowledge increases exponentially over time. Human nature remains more or less the same.

[Trader Pat]

I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

Interesting you mention seatbelts, it was a little before my time when they became mandatory but public opinion seemed to be split on whether you should have to wear one or not. Amazing how humans would rather put themselves in potential danger than be told what to do even if its in their own best interests. Not much has changed since the 80's.

Human knowledge increases exponentially over time. Human nature remains more or less the same.

Yep, for the most intelligent creature on Earth we're not very bright sometimes

[Derek27]

I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

Interesting you mention seatbelts, it was a little before my time when they became mandatory but public opinion seemed to be split on whether you should have to wear one or not. Amazing how humans would rather put themselves in potential danger than be told what to do even if its in their own best interests. Not much has changed since the 80's.

That and the smoking ban, made me feel the world was going bonkers. I don't even smoke in my own flat now.

[jimibt]

I am a strong believer in personal choice and freedom of thought - but I drive on the left, I wear a seatbelt and I get vaccinated because I have certain responsibilites to my fellow citizens - as they have to me.
Galilee66

Interesting you mention seatbelts, it was a little before my time when they became mandatory but public opinion seemed to be split on whether you should have to wear one or not. Amazing how humans would rather put themselves in potential danger than be told what to do even if its in their own best interests. Not much has changed since the 80's.

That and the smoking ban, made me feel the world was going bonkers. I don't even smoke in my own flat now.

well, thank *gosh* we can freely cross borders irrespective of our morality, responsibilities and integrity to hit a wee ball. thought the world had gone soft for a moment there!!