According to multiple sources, the world No.1 men’s player applied for an exemption on the basis that he had contracted COVID-19 in the previous six months.
In a letter sent to Mr Tiley on November 18, Department of Health First Assistant Secretary Lisa Schofield said that “people who have previously had COVID-19 and not received a vaccine dose are not considered fully vaccinated”.
Ms Schofield said such people would “not be approved for quarantine-free entry, regardless of whether they have received foreign vaccination exemptions”.
She said Australian Border Force had advised that people must meet the “fully vaccinated definition” set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia.
Mr Hunt then followed up in a letter to Mr Tiley on November 29, reiterating the advice.
“Australian Border Force has advised that people must be fully vaccinated, as defined by the ATAGI, to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia,” the letter stated.
“As detailed in Ms Schofield’s correspondence of 18 November 2021, this means that people who do not meet the ATAGI’s definition of fully vaccinated will not be approved for quarantine-free entry, regardless of whether they have received foreign vaccination exemptions.”
It is unclear whether the prospect of Djokovic undertaking 14 days’ quarantine was ever discussed between Tennis Australia, the Commonwealth and the Victorian government. The Australian Open is due to start in less than two weeks on January 17.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday revealed Border Force on Wednesday night attempted to contact the Victorian government to see if it was prepared to quarantine Djokovic.
“That was the issue being discussed with Victoria – about quarantine. I am unaware of the Victorian government position on whether they were prepared to allow him to not have to quarantine or not. I don’t know,” Mr Morrison said.
Health authorities told Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley on two occasions in writing that people who were not vaccinated and had contracted COVID-19 in the past six months would not be granted quarantine-free travel to Australia.
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