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Australia news LIVE: Victoria records 1841 new local COVID-19 cases, 12 deaths; NSW records 283 new cases, seven deaths; Mike Baird to appear at Berejiklian ICAC inquiry

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has some pointed remarks for tennis superstar and nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has been rather reluctant to say whether he’s had a coronavirus jab.

But if he wants a shot at the tenth title, he’ll need to be double vaccinated.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Speaking on the ABC’s RN Breakfast earlier this morning, Mr Hawke ruled out a special exemption for tennis players.

“The government in establishing its borders has said that you’ll need to be double vaccinated to visit Australia. That’s a universal application, not just to tennis players. I mean that every visitor to Australia will need to be double vaccinated,” Mr Hawke said.

Asked if he had a message for Djokovic, the Immigration Minister said the health advice was clear, backing in the view held by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews yesterday.

“I don’t have a message to Novak. I have a message to everybody that wishes to visit Australia. He’ll need to be double vaccinated,” Mr Hawke said.

Nationals backbencher Matt Canavan has a different take this morning, saying Djokovic should be allowed in because he’s already had COVID-19.

“We should range the rules. Those rules are wrong. I’m not saying it should be a rule for Novak … it should be a rule for everybody. If you’ve had COVID and have natural immunity, you’re better off,” the Queensland Senator told the Today show.

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But Victorian Australian Medical Association president Dr Roderick McRae says that is not true.

“I understand [Djokovic] had [coronavirus] but, believe it or not, the immunity from the vaccination is better than the immunity from catching the disease.

“It’s important our leaders make these decisions in our interests and [banning unvaccinated travellers] demonstrates to the community just how important we take this.”

Djokovic has already hinted the vaccination issue could be a deal-breaker for him playing the next Melbourne grand slam.

“Things being as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne,” Djokovic recently told the online edition of Serbian daily Blic.

“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.”

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