When world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia earlier this month, he intended to defend his title at the Australian Open.

Instead, his visa was cancelled and he was detained at a hotel in Melbourne - the Park Hotel.  

Before Djokovic’s arrival, the Park Hotel was home to around 30 refugees and asylum seekers who were being kept in indefinite immigration detention.   

Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh on the moment the world’s attention focused on Australia’s treatment of refugees, and what happens now most of the media have moved on. 




Guest: Producer for 7am podcast Elle Marsh and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Mehdi Ali.




Background reading:

‘I grew up in this cage’: Life inside the Park Hotel in The Saturday Paper

The sky of this cage in The Saturday Paper




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When world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia earlier this month, he intended to defend his title at the Australian Open.Instead, his visa was cancelled and he was detained at a hotel in Melbourne - the Park Hotel.  Before Djokovic’s arrival, the Park Hotel was home to around 30 refugees and asylum seekers who were being kept in indefinite immigration detention.   Today, 7am producer Elle Marsh on the moment the world’s attention focused on Australia’s treatment of refugees, and what happens now most of the media have moved on.  Guest: Producer for 7am podcast Elle Marsh and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Mehdi Ali. Background reading:<a href="https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/01/08/i-grew-this-cage-life-inside-the-park-hotel/164156040013124">‘I grew up in this cage’: Life inside the Park Hotel</a> in The Saturday Paper<a href="https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/life/2022/01/22/the-sky-this-cage/164277000013174">The sky of this cage</a> in The Saturday Paper Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/7ampodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

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