Australia – Rumours broke this afternoon that Australia would be competing in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. They were initially laughed off as an early April Fools Day joke…until it was confirmed by the EBU!!
For the 60th anniversary, in to support Building Bridges, the EBU and host broadcaster ORF invited Australia to compete in the Grand Final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest for one year only (Unless they win!). This brings the total amount of represented countries to 40.
Australia will be allowed to vote in both Semi-Finals, as well as the Grand Final. Along a professional jury, possibilities are currently being explored to allow the public to have a 50 percent stake in the Australian vote via televoting.
The Aussies get straight into the final (has anyone told Turkey yet??). To not reduce the chances of the current Semi-Final participants to make it to the Grand Final and because of the one-off nature of Australia’s participation, it was decided to add the country to the Grand Final, bringing the total amount of participants to 27, along with 10 qualifiers from each Semi-Final, host country Austria, and the so-called Big Five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom).
If Australia wins, SBS will co-host the Eurovision Song Contest in a European city, together with an EBU Member Broadcaster.
The Australian song and artist will be revealed shortly according to this announcement video.
The announcement has caused outrage and excitement in equal measures in the Eurovision comminuty. What do you think?!
The Eurovision Times 
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Oh and If I were EBU,I wouldn’t demand any participation fee from the countries with big financially problems…That would fit more to the Eurovision spirit and the 60th year anniversary…
I second this.
Anyway since there is too much negativity without any real reason, I will just say I would hope we would see an australian national final to be honest even if it seems unlikely right now :) ! Have to download an australian flag to add to my ranking excel file as well !
I am speechless! It can be read as a very unfair move on one hand, and it can be a nice gesture to a country that loves ESC on the other. That said, I would invite Australia as an observer, never as a contestant, under the current rules. A precedent has been open (and a can of worms as well). Time will tell.
Agreed. Last year’s “participation” as a contributor to the interval act of the second semi-final was fine for everyone. This, on the other hand, is a total mess.
I really don’t like this development.The way EBU is willing to bend the rules just because they can is disturbing.
will be good if each year a non EBU member country ( different country each year ) to participate as guest, if this happen then most probably Kazakhstan or Liechtenstein will be the ESC 2016 guest country .
Also i hope that this year will not announce the winner before all countries to vote because this is getting on my nerves …
why Russia are not in silly “big” countries ? Due to politics I quest ?
Because they don’t contribute as much as the rest big.
and how do you know that ?
Off-Topic: IDK if anyone’s noticed, but the US has just hit 100,000 hits on the flag counter and the whole site just hit 5 MILLION visitors. So happy for ET. :D
Just make sure that there is a distinct difference between Australia and Austria – my children are half Austrian but get called Australian – two very different countries and two very different world zones.
Very bad decision that will backfire EBU, as usual.
I have an awkward feeling about this right now but I’m still happy because…. extra 12 points for the UK right!!! Aussies? ;-)
Cant understand all the negativity, this is amazing news
Is that you, Max? :)
P.S. – Allowing Australia to go directly to the final is unwise.
Yes :)
Why is it unwise? this is only a special one off, so as they are a guest it makes sense for them to be in the main show, not out in some qualification round.
If it was permanent then I’d agree Semi Final, but as they just competing the 1 time I think final, it’s going to be an amazing moment.
I said last year before they australian interval they could have let them have a postcard and little australian flag diamond thing to make them feel more like an entry.
I disagree.
P.S. – one off? Time will tell.
I was intially going to boycott Eurovision this year because of the Russia Ukraine situation but I think now I have to see Australia debut. I really hope they win so we get to see them in 2016 as well.
Im a pessimist so I do think 2015 will be the only year we see them, but personally I would love them to be with us every year.
i love dami im, for this! she was already at ABU TV SONG CONTEST (ASIA) and was really good :) i mean dami won a show and she had a big fan base only in her first live show on x factor and after that she was smash it! every week getting people loving her and voting for her,so i think that she is the only and one singer aussie for Eurovision.