Australians overwhelmingly support Djokovic deportation
An exclusive survey for The-Sun Herald and Sunday Age shows 71 per cent of Australians think the world No.1 should not be allowed to stay
More than two-thirds of Australians believe Novak Djokovic should be sent home without playing in the Australian Open, as the tennis champion goes to court on Sunday to fight a sensational federal move to deport him.
An exclusive survey for The-Sun Herald and Sunday Age shows 71 per cent of Australians think the world No.1 should not be allowed to stay despite his claim for an exemption from rules that require visitors to be fully vaccinated.
Only 14 per cent of respondents want him to compete in Melbourne and gain a chance to make history by winning his 21st grand slam title, surpassing the record he holds with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Another 15 per cent say they do not care if he stays or goes.
The survey by research company Resolve Strategic reveals popular support for the federal government decision on Friday to cancel the Serbian’s visa for the second time after a court favoured Djokovic last week.
The 34-year-old was taken into immigration detention on Saturday afternoon ahead of a Federal Court hearing Sunday morning. The star appeared calm and composed, wearing green tracksuit pants and a jumper with a white face mask, as he was driven in by a white sedan.
Nadal and other leading players have lamented how the visa saga had overshadowed the start of the Australian Open this Monday, with the Spanish great warning not one player in the history of tennis is above the sport itself.
With Prime Minister Scott Morrison declaring that health rules had to be applied, the poll results show strong majority support for the government position among Labor, Coalition and uncommitted voters.
“Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected,” Morrison said on Friday night.
Asked their view during several days of national debate, 78 per cent of Coalition voters said the tennis star should not be allowed to stay and play, 75 per cent of Labor voters said the same and 64 per cent of uncommitted voters concurred.
Men are slightly more likely to back Djokovic, with 17 per cent saying he should stay compared to 12 per cent among women.
While supporters of the Australian Open fear that the furore will damage the iconic Melbourne event, the popular mood against him crosses state borders.
The strongest support for Djokovic came from voters who sided with the United Australia Party.
