Novak Djokovic: Liberal MPs divided over whether Australian government should again cancel visa

Despite the government agreeing to release Djokovic from detention and quash the original decision to cancel his visa, the immigration minister, Alex Hawke, is yet to decide whether to use a separate power to deport the tennis star.

The division underscores the difficulty of the momentous political decision before Hawke: let Djokovic stay and play for a record 21st grand slam singles title; or deport him, which could trigger a three-year ban from re-entering Australia.

In court, the government argued that having Covid by itself did not justify an exemption, because Djokovic had recovered.