The politics behind tennis star Novak Djokovic's cancelled visa ahead of Australian Open

Where they feel most comfortable, in control. Where they feel they're most likely to win.

For political parties, that means trying to manipulate the media and public narrative in order to place their issue at the forefront.

If that means attention is diverted from a crisis (like a nationwide shortage of home testing kits at a critical stage of the pandemic), even better.

Scott Morrison and the Coalition have long believed when border security is the focus, the game is being played on their terms.

Their handling of the Novak Djokovic visa saga must be seen through this prism. It certainly cannot be ignored when an election looms so near on the horizon.

For all the messiness surrounding it, the decision to cancel Djokovic's visa for failing to provide evidence to support a medical exemption might prove the correct call.

The courts, where the 20-time grand slam champion is challenging the ruling, will now decide that.

READ MORE

But the decision cannot be divorced from the political environment in which it was made. Morrison himself has made sure of that.

Under pressure to act as the Omicron variant sweeps the country, Morrison clearly sensed an opportunity to turn the game back on his terms by tapping into public outrage over the vaccine critic's impending arrival in Australia.

Fronting reporters in Parliament House just hours after the Djokovic visa bombshell broke, the former immigration minister reprised his role as the government's tough man on borders.

"Now our government has strong form when it comes to securing our borders," he said.

"I don't think anybody doubts that and they know that I, both as Prime Minister, Treasurer and particularly as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, have a very strong view on this."

Morrison famously kept in his office a small boat-shaped trophy with the words "I Stopped These" - a reminder of his own perception of his crowning achievement as immigration minister.

Such was the tone of his statements on Thursday morning, one could be forgiven for picturing a small Djokovic-shaped sculpture placed beside it.

The visa cancellation and the Prime Minister's "rules are rules" speech which followed it dominated the headlines.

But the actions aren't without implications, which could yet outlast the massive international media attention the decision has triggered.

The saga has raised questions about Australia's visa processing system and caused a diplomatic spat with Serbia.

The Victorian government and Tennis Australia are far from unscathed.

The courts could yet rule in Djokovic's favour, causing embarrassment for Morrison at a time he can least afford it.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: