Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic has been freed from immigration detention after the government conceded the cancellation of his visa was unreasonable.

But Immigration Minister Alex Hawke still has discretionary power to remove Djokovic from Australia.

Federal Court Judge Anthony Kelly on Monday afternoon ordered that a decision to cancel his visa should be quashed and he be paid costs.

The order was made after lawyers for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews conceded the decision to proceed with an early morning airport interview and cancel his visa last week was unreasonable in the circumstances.

Djokovic was told at 5.20am on Thursday that he had until 8.30am to respond to a notice of intention to cancel his visa. His comments were sought instead at 6.14am.

The decision to cancel his visa was made just over an hour later.

Judge Kelly said if Djokovic had been given until 8.30am he could have consulted others about the decision.

He ordered that Djokovic must be released within 30 minutes of the order being made and that his passport and other personal effects be returned immediately.

A spokesperson for Mr Hawke noted the court's decision, adding the minister's personal discretion remains in play.

"The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing," the spokesman said.

It could mean there will be not resolution on Monday.

Serbians and tennis fans swamped Djokovic's lawyers offices in Melbourne, waiting to see their hero. Police used capsicum spray to clear supporters from a car, initially believed to contain the 20-time grand slam champion.

Djokovic supporters have chanted for his release and waved Serbian flags.

The controversy began following the 34-year-old's arrival in Australia late on Wednesday, after he declared he had a medical reason not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

He told an immigration interviewer he had not been vaccinated and had contracted COVID-19 twice - in June 2020 and December 2021.

Djokovic handed over the exemption documents from Tennis Australia before being told about the notice of intention to cancel his visa just before 4am on Thursday.

"I arrived here because of these documents otherwise I wouldn't have been allowed to come in," he said, according to transcripts released by Judge Kelly.

"I mean you kind of put me in a very awkward position where at four in the morning I can't call director of Tennis Australia, I can't engage with anybody from the Victorian state government through Tennis Australia. I just, you put me in a very uncomfortable position."

The tennis star's legal challenge was plagued by technical issues on Monday, with a live stream collapsing under the pressure of tens of thousands of people trying to watch.

He was allowed out of detention to be with his lawyers for the hearing.

Christopher Tran, representing the government, said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke will now consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation over Djokovic's visa.

Judge Kelly said he would have been "something approaching incandescent" had he heard about that after the hearing, foreshadowing potential further legal action.

He said it was unlikely any other judge could get up to speed with the case, and pointed out that Djokovic's personal and professional reputation and economic interests may be directly affected.

"If this man is to be summarily removed upon the personal exercise of cancellation power, he cannot return to this country for three years," he said.

Earlier Nick Wood SC said Djokovic declared before boarding his flight to Australia from Dubai that he had a medical contraindication for vaccination and was able to provide evidence - a medical exemption by Tennis Australia.

Judge Kelly asked: "What more could this man have done?"

"Here, a professor and an eminently qualified physician have produced and provided to the applicant a medical exemption," he said.

"Further to that, that medical exemption and the basis on which it was given, was separately given by a further independent expert specialist panel established by the Victorian state government."

© AAP 2022

Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic will be freed from immigration detention and his visa reinstated.

Federal Court Judge Anthony Kelly ordered on Monday afternoon that the decision to cancel his visa should be quashed and he be paid costs.

The order was made after lawyers for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews conceded the decision to proceed with the interview and cancel his visa last week was unreasonable in circumstances.

Djokovic has been told at 5.20am on Thursday that he could have until 8.30am to respond to a notice of intention to cancel his visa. His comments were sought instead at 6.14am.

The decision to cancel his visa was made just over an hour later.

Judge Kelly said if Djokovic had been given until 8.30am he could have consulted others about the decision.

He ordered that Djokovic must be released within 30 minutes of the order being made and that his passport and other personal effects be returned immediately.

The controversy began shortly after Djokovic's arrival in Australia late on Wednesday, after he declared he had a medical reason not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The tennis star's legal challenge was plagued by technical issues on Monday, with a live stream collapsing under the pressure of tens of thousands of people trying to watch.

Christopher Tran, representing the government, said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke will now consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation over Djokovic's visa.

Judge Kelly said he would have been "something approaching incandescent" had he heard about that after the hearing.

Foreshadowing further potential legal action if that occurs, the judge said the stakes were higher now.

He said it was unlikely any other judge could get up to speed with the case and he would need to know as soon as possible if there was going to be another proceeding on short notice.

He also pointed out that Djokovic's personal and professional reputation and economic interests may be directly affected.

"If this man is to be summarily removed upon the personal exercise of cancellation power, he cannot return to this country for three years," he said.

"I expect to be fully informed in advance if I am required to continue to be available for any further proceeding that is to be sought, because on a view, the stakes have now risen rather than receded."

Comment has been sought from both ministers.

© AAP 2022

Bob Saget, an actor and comedian best known as the jovial dad on the television sitcom Full House, has been found dead in a Florida hotel room, at age 65.

The cause of Saget's death was unclear. Emergency responders found the actor unresponsive on Sunday afternoon in a room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando and pronounced him dead at the scene, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives found no signs of foul play or drug use, the department said.

Saget, 65, had just started a comedy tour and performed near Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday night. In his last Instagram post, he reflected on the "really nice audience" and "lots of positivity."

"I had no idea I did a two hour set tonight," he wrote. "I'm back in comedy like I was when I was 26. I guess I'm finding my new voice and loving every moment of it."

Saget played widowed father Danny Tanner on Full House from 1987 to 1995, and also on a sequel called Fuller House from 2016 to 2020. In the show, Tanner shared his home with his three daughters, his brother-in-law and best friend.

The actor also hosted America's Funniest Home Videos from 1989 to 1997.

In contrast to his wholesome TV image, Saget's stand-up act delivered raunchier adult-oriented comedy. He also played a parody of himself in a recurring role on the HBO series Entourage.

John Stamos, Saget's co-star on Full House, said he was "broken" and "gutted" by Saget's death.

"I am in complete and utter shock," Stamos wrote on Twitter. "I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby."

Comedian Jon Stewart called Saget "just the funniest and nicest" in a tweet on Sunday. Seinfeld star Jason Alexander said Saget "was kind and dear and cared about people deeply. He was the definition of 'a good egg'".

The local medical examiner's office will determine the cause of Saget's death, the sheriff's department said.

© RAW 2022

A federal government bid for extra time to prepare its case against tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic has been denied.

His case returns to court on Monday, with Djokovic fighting for the right to remain in the country and the chance to defend his Australian Open title.

The application, made on behalf of Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews over the weekend, sought to adjourn the final hearing by two days - just five days from the start of the Australian Open.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly refused the application and the case will resume on Monday as planned.

News broke on the weekend that Djokovic had recovered from COVID-19 before travelling to Australia. His lawyers are expected to argue this is why he met the prescribed requirements for a vaccination exemption.

The 34-year-old Serb on Sunday remained in immigration detention in Melbourne after having his visa cancelled by the federal government.

Documents released by the Federal Court on Saturday show Djokovic contracted COVID-19 on December 16 and was free from symptoms ahead of his arrival in Australia on Wednesday.

"The visa holder (Djokovic) stated that Tennis Australia facilitated his medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirement and completed the Australian Travel Declaration on his behalf," a Home Affairs representative said, as quoted in court papers.

"I consider that Tennis Australia would have facilitated his medical exemption and Australian Travel Declaration based on information (Djokovic) provided to them. As such, I don't consider these constitute extenuating circumstances beyond (Djokovic's) control.

"I apply significant weight in favour of visa cancellation for this factor."

The champion player's lawyer will argue that he met the criteria for a temporary exemption under the guidelines of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. And furthermore, that he was denied procedural fairness during the decision to revoke his visa.

Court documents cite the ATAGI advice, including: "COVID-19 vaccination in people who have had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection can be deferred for a maximum of six months after the acute illness, as a temporary exemption due to acute major medical illness".

Djokovic provided evidence that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on December 16.

After his arrival on Wednesday evening, court papers show Djokovic had a sleepless night as he was questioned by authorities at times including 4am, before the visa revocation at 7.42am.

A partial transcript of that interview included "you have stated you are not vaccinated against COVID-19".

Djokovic has previously declined to confirm his vaccination status.

"Mr Djokovic had received, on 30 December 2021, a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Tennis Australia recording that he had been provided with a 'medical exemption from COVID vaccination' on the ground that he had recently recovered from COVID," the court documents read.

In a letter leaked to media, Tennis Australia rejected that players were knowingly misled, insisting organisers had followed "instructions".

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said his organisation received conflicting and contradictory information due to the "changing environment" of the pandemic.

The sporting body spoke to Home Affairs and other parts of government weekly to ensure it was doing the right thing, he told Nine News on Sunday.

© AAP 2022