The Novak Djokovic hearing has crashed the Australian court link in Victoria, yet the hearing is continuing to proceed.
For those who don't know, the world #1 tennis player was given a vax exemption, then was detained upon his arrival for the Australian Open. His phone was taken from him for almost four hours while he was interrogated.
No contact with family or lawyers for four hours.
His possessions, including his wallet, were seized by Australian police. He's been detained in a migrant hotel until the hearing, which began an hour ago in Victoria this morning.
According to Karen Sweeney, court reporter, the hearing has begun even though the promised live feed is not available.
This, she says, is "the absolute worst case scenario."
The trial may be something of a watershed moment for freedom of choice regarding the vax.
What you're seeing at the hearing is Nick Wood SC and Paul Holdenson QC for Novak Djokovic, and Christopher Tran for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews (& the Comonwealth).
As I understand it, Novak's lawyers are currently claiming that a passenger is required only to make a declaration—vaxxed, unvaxxed, or unvaxxed with exemption—but is not required to provide evidence of this.
Novak made the declaration. He even provided evidence, although he was not required to under law.
If true, this would further support the idea that mandates, suggestions, recommendations, etc. are not laws.