Multi-millionaire Novak Djokovic has spent his first night time in a $104-a-night Melbourne lodge used as refugee housing, as supporters camped out to carry a candlelit vigil demanding his launch.
A far cry from his $15million Marbella mansion, the Park Resort within the metropolis's CBD has seen detainees complaining of mouldy and maggot-ridden meals as lately as final week, together with his father calling the tennis star's detention 'an assault on Serbia'.
The world's finest tennis participant touched down in Melbourne late on Wednesday night time to compete for a document tenth Australian Open title, solely to learn his medical exemption from being vaccinated in opposition to Covid was not enough - sparking a bitter diplomatic row.
The Serbian president has come out swinging at Scott Morrison, accusing his authorities of embarking on a 'political witch hunt' after revoking his visa and getting ready to deport him residence.
Djokovic will stay on the lodge till his authorized battle is resolved on Monday, with a staff of attorneys working by means of the night time to maintain him in Australia - forcing him to stay in limbo and endure lower than five-star situations.
The lodging has develop into that of infamy, working as a holding facility for refugees imprisoned on Manus Island and Nauru who're looking for pressing medical care underneath now defunct Medevac legal guidelines.
His brother Djordje Djokovic claimed the star was in a 'soiled room with none belongings' and being handled 'like a felony'.
A staff representing the Minister for Immigration mentioned in a late listening to on Thursday they 'wouldn't oppose an interim injunction' barring the federal government from deporting Djokovic till the following listening to - that means he'll stay on the lodge over the weekend.
Lots of supporters surrounded the constructing on Thursday, holding anti-vaccination placards, waving Serbian flags and chanting for his or her hero.
A candlelight vigil for the 34-year-old was even held in Lincoln Park reverse the lodging.
They have been contrasted by dozens of refugee activists, benefiting from the media presence to champion their trigger, clashing with police as they have been led away whereas baffled detainees watched by means of the lodge home windows.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR NOVAK?
Some refugees have shared their horror tales of being trapped contained in the lodge for a number of years, with what they declare is inedible meals, no recent air and no entry to exercise tools.
'[The maggots] have been alive within the plastic dish. Individuals refused to eat it and demanded that it's taken away,' a refugee informed SBS.
'There was no different meals purchased to exchange it. So that they both ate the maggot-infested meals, the mouldy bread or went hungry. Most went hungry.'
In a matter of hours, Djokovic noticed his hopes at changing into the primary man to win 21 Grand Slams go up in smoke after proudly posting to Instagram that he had acquired 'exemption permission' and was Australia certain.
He'll stay within the Park Resort till Monday, residing alongside 33 different detainees from offshore detention centres.
The Park Resort, as soon as Rydges Carlton, is described as a 'luxurious 4.5-star lodge' that coincidentally options tennis courts, a pool, wellness services and a enterprise centre.
The choose answerable for his authorized case requested throughout proceedings if the lodge he was staying at had a tennis court docket that Djokovic may observe on.
Fairly than internet hosting friends from round Australia and the world, the Park Resort has as a substitute been residence to refugees earlier than changing into a lodge quarantine facility for returning residents.
In October final 12 months the lodge noticed a Covid outbreak, with 22 of the 46 detainees testing optimistic and one man rushed to hospital.
Then in late December two fires broke out within the constructing, with one man rushed to hospital with smoke inhalation.
The third and fourth flooring have been impacted by the blaze, with refugees now saved on the second ground, however they're unable to entry the fitness center because of the injury.
Some even claimed they weren't safely evacuated throughout the inferno.
It's doubtless a really totally different expertise from his typical digs, a $15million mansion in Marbella which he moved to together with his spouse final 12 months after residing in Monaco for 15 years.
His palatial residence contains a swimming pool with ocean views, poolside cabanas and even a personal cinema.
However in his new lodging, detainees have complained for years about their remedy.
Refugees, a few of whom have been prisoners for 9 years, say they've been robbed of primary human rights within the lodge, with some not having been outdoors for greater than a 12 months.
'There is not any laundry, we're washing our garments by hand,' Iraqi asylum seeker Mustafa Salah mentioned. 'There is not any fitness center and no recent air.'
'I used to be simply shocked. The meals they have been delivering is placing individuals in peril. Even an animal can't eat this sort of meals.'
The Serbian President made a determined plea to his Australian counterparts after studying of the 'notorious lodge' the place Djokovic is being held.
Aleksandar Vucic mentioned throughout a press convention on Thursday night time from Belgrade he had spoken to the tennis star twice since he was denied entry into Australia and mentioned it was a 'political chase' on the world no.1.
'That is what Novak has requested from his nation and it's our obligation to safeguard our residents,' President Vucic mentioned of transferring Djokovic to a lodge the place he can 'transfer round'.
'It isn't honest {that a} political chase is going on headed by the Prime Minister of Australia. They've allowed in related gamers, however not Novak Djokovic.
'It's clear to everybody what is going on. I'm not one to mince phrases, I'm not afraid of talking the reality. My job is to defend the residents of Serbia and the reality.'
The president additionally mentioned he had communicated with the 20-time Grand Slam winner's household.
'I've additionally spoken to Novak Djokovic's father, however I'm afraid that kind of political provocation goes to proceed, as they cannot defeat him one other approach,' President Vucic mentioned.
Livid at his son's remedy, Srdjan Djokovic held his personal press convention in Belgrade in a single day, claiming the tennis champion is being 'held captive'.
He reportedly nonetheless doesn't have any of his belongings, and is being denied entry to a cell phone.
'Our Novak, our pleasure. Novak is Serbia and Serbia is Novak,' his father mentioned.
'They're trampling over Serbia and by doing that, they're trampling on the Serbian individuals.
'The chief of that faraway land, Scott Morrison ... dared to assault Novak and expel him earlier than he had reached their nation. That they had wished to throw him to his knees, and never simply him, however our stunning Serbia.'
Calling his son 'the pleasure of all the free world', he mentioned Serbians have been a peaceable individuals and seemed solely to 'defend themselves'.
'We Serbs are a proud individuals, who're happy with our [the] mild on the finish of the tunnel, and that's our Novak. That political oligarchy is not going to extinguish it,' he added.
Likewise the tennis champion's brother, Djordje Djokovic, referred to as the fracas the 'best sporting and diplomatic scandal'.
He claimed that the star's staff had 'no approach' of contacting the Federal Authorities about his exemption earlier than his arrival, and had been liaising solely by means of Tennis Australia.
'He was handled like a felony whereas he's a wholesome and first rate man and a sportsman who has not endangered anybody's life and has not dedicated any federal or authorized offence', he added.
Djokovic arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday night time after asserting on Instagram he had acquired 'an exemption permission' to enter Australia, regardless of seemingly being unvaccinated.
On arrival, he was informed he was not eligible to enter, and his justification for an exemption didn't fall underneath ATAGI's standards.
An explosive e-mail from Well being Minister Greg Hunt to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley warning of this very predicament has additionally emerged.
'The Australian Border Power has suggested that individuals should be absolutely vaccinated, as outlined by ATAGI (the nationwide advisory physique on vaccines) to realize quarantine-free entry into Australia,' Mr Hunt wrote.
'In relation to your particular questions, I can affirm that individuals who contracted Covid-19 inside the previous six months and search to enter Australia from abroad, and haven't acquired two doses of a Therapeutic Items Administration-approved or recognised vaccine will not be thought of absolutely vaccinated.'
The 34-year-old's authorized staff appealed to Choose Anthony Kelly to assessment the choice made by the Division of Dwelling Affairs to deport the world No. 1.
Djokovic's barrister Nick Wooden SC informed the court docket on Thursday he was decided to discover a approach for his consumer to play within the Australian Open on January 17, and the visa problem is what's standing in his approach.
'The absence of a visa, if the cancellation choice is legitimate, is an insuperable impediment to Mr Djokovic competing within the event,' Mr Wooden mentioned.
Choose Kelly mentioned the court docket is 'making an attempt to do every thing it will probably to help these events however there must be wise limits.'
He adjourned the matter till Monday 10am urging each events to work collectively to work collectively amicably so an answer could be discovered.
Christopher Tran, who's representing the federal government, agreed he doesn't contemplate it 'within the pursuits of justice' to make a hasty choice this night.
The court docket additionally heard Tennis Australia needs a 'definitive reply' about whether or not Djokovic will be capable to play by Tuesday because it wants to start scheduling forward of the Melbourne Grand Slam which commences January 17.
'The tail will not be wagging the canine right here, Mr Wooden,' Choose Kelly responded.
'If Tennis Australia decides to do what it needs to do in operating its enterprise, it'll.'
However Choose Kelly did say he was 'strongly inclined' to get the matter handled as shortly as potential including that he's opened to Djokovic giving proof throughout the on-line listening to.
It comes amid studies Tennis Australia granted medical exemptions to 2 different people who do not meet the necessities, each of them at the moment are topics of Border Power investigations.
Australian Border Power officers at the moment are investigating their circumstances, ABC Defence Correspondent reported.
Fellow tennis celebrity Rafael Nadal was drawn into the fiasco on Thursday, with the normally diplomatic participant putting the blame on the toes of Djokovic.
'If you happen to do not need to get the vaccine, you are going to have some troubles. I believe if he wished, he could be enjoying right here in Australia [at the Australian Open] with out a downside,' the world No. 6 mentioned.
'He made his personal choices, and all people is free to take their very own choices, however then there are some penalties.
'In fact I do not just like the scenario that's occurring. Ultimately I really feel sorry for him. However on the identical time, he knew the situations since a whole lot of months in the past, so he makes his personal choice.'
