Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has slammed the door shut on the possibility of unvaccinated players taking part in next year’s Australian Open.
The Premier’s final word on the situation comes on the same morning that Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested there could be flexibility on the inclusion of unvaccinated players.
Speaking on Nine’s Today, Morrison said that “you just have to manage the public health risk.”
“We talk about large numbers of people, obviously there is a smaller number of actual players,” he said.
“It is nice to have clear and hard and fast rules, but there needs to be a little bit of flexibility so we can live with the virus.”
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However, Andrews responded, saying: “On behalf of every vaccinated Victorian who has done the right thing – my goverment will not be applying for an exemption for any unvaccinated player.
“What I want to make very clear is that the state of Victoria will not be applying for any exemptions for unvaccinated players.”
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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said his government’s position was “pretty simple”.
“That is, that you can come in if you are double vaccinated,” he said.
“If a state is seeking an exemption for somebody to come in for a workplace program or a similar event and they are not vaccinated, they can come in if that state seeks it.
“They are subject, however, to two weeks of quarantine and that’s without fear or favour. “It is entirely a matter for the state, or the state working with Tennis Australia.
“If there is a no jab, no play policy in Victoria, that’s a matter for them to resolve.
“You have to do quarantine if you haven’t been vaccinated.
“If the state wishes to seek the exemption for the players, not only one particular player, then that would be created at the Commonwealth level on a major event basis, but it would require a full vaccination.”
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Tennis Australia is yet to go public with its stance on the matter, but Todd Woodbridge last night said on 2GB’s WWOS Radio that the decision had to lie squarely with the state and federal governments.
“I’ve found fascinating, in a sense, that people want Tennis Australia to give an answer. It’s not up to Tennis Australia to give an answer, it’s up to the governments to make a decision … that will solve all the issues,” he said.
Several top players, including world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, are likely to be absent unless the state government has a sudden change of heart.
Tennis writer Craig Gabriel said that the number of vaccinated player on the women’s tour was about 65 per cent fully vaccinated, but raised a worrying stat for the men’s side of the draw, claiming there was closer to 50 per cent of the men double vaccinated.
“As far as this issue is concerned, they’re a little more independent rather than following like sheep,” Gabriel said.
“I don’t know why this is, and why they’re so sceptical about it.”
Gabriel said that some players, such as Andy Murray, had been pushing people to get vaccinated because it would benefit the entire tour.
With several weeks required between the first and second jab, the deadline is fast approaching for players to get vaccinated should they wish to take part at Melbourne Park, with action beginning on January 17.
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