Novak Djokovic visa saga could have been avoided if digital visa system was in place, Senate Estimates told

The Department of Home Affairs says it is facing an estimated legal bill of $360,000 over the Novak Djokovic visa saga, but is hoping the figure will «net out to zero» when factoring in two cost orders awarded by the circuit and federal courts. 

Appearing at a Senate Estimates hearing, Home Affairs general counsel Pip de Veau said the combined estimate of legal costs was «in the vicinity of $360,000 without any awards going either way».

The Commonwealth was ordered to pay Djokovic's costs when his deportation case was brought before the Federal Circuit Court, but Djokovic was subsequently ordered to pay the Commonwealth's costs for the case that was brought before the full Federal Court.

«Generally [the costs] offset themselves when they come in … but we'll need to get the invoices then make the determination in consultation with Mr Djokovic's lawyers as to how those two cost orders are sorted out,» Ms de Veau said.

«But, as I said, it's an estimate.»

«Hopefully they'll net out to zero,» Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo said.

The news came as Mr Pezzullo said the saga might have been avoided if the federal government's promised digital passenger declaration (DPD) system was in place.

Mr Pezzullo said the system would have given officials near-instant access to supporting documentation by the tennis star to assess whether he met Australia's entry requirements — including vaccination exemptions.

Under the system, the department would have been able to discern Mr Djokovic's vaccination status and whether he had an exemption to enter the country unvaccinated before he arrived in Australia.

It would have meant if Mr Djokovic was not able to provide the adequate supporting documentation about his vaccination status through the