held captive in australia. he is free to leave, at any time that he chooses to do so. and border force will actually facilitate that. reporter: but novak djokovic is not the only resident of the park hotel. previously used as a quarantine hotel for returning australians, for the past year, it s been a detention facility for more than 30 refugees and asylum seekers. languishing inside, waiting for their cases to be heard. this is where i live. reporter: after spending years in offshore detention centers for attempting to enter australia by boat. like mehdi, who believes to a persecuted religious minority from iran, turning 24 years old today. suffering from exhaustion and we are tired. we ve been in detention more than eight years. good morning, everyone. i m craig foster. reporter: famous australian footballer turned activist craig foster says the country s treatment of refugees is a national embarrassment and hopes djokovic will use this ordeal to become a voice for the
medhi from iran turning 24 years old today. we are tired. we have been in detention more than eight years. good morning, everyone. i m craig foster. reporter: famous australian footballer said the country s treatment of refugees is a national embarrassment and hope djokovic will use this ordeal to become a voice for the voiceless. the refugees are trying to reach out to novak. with an athlete with incredible status and fame and privilege, perhaps he can bring some visibility, he can grow and develop some understanding about the way australia is treating these people and bling that story to the world. reporter: whether djokovic decides to fight for those forgotten refugees remains to be seen. but for the majority of australians, there is little sympathy for him. he is a millionaire scum bag