Since Israel and Morocco managed to get into, and the Queen of Australia is an European monarch, while it looks funny, it's not more of a stretch than the two other countries.

@Kemm Morocco and Israel is part of the European broadcasting Union (EBU) as it streaches through out the whole of Europe and parts of Western Asia and Northern Africa so it's not really a streach that Morocco and Israel is part of the Eurovision song contest. Australia is definetly not part of the EBU but has been allowed to join in anyway.

@ghost_the_hybrid the thing is that they are part of an european organization despite being not european. If I had to look for some kind of tie for Australia joining Eurovision, I would say the Commonwealth (so if, let's say, Canada some day asks to join, they could use Australia as leverage).

@Ordung
Because our dad said so.

Hahaha nice, Aussies. I think you should be....proud? Maybe?

For me, I don't want our country to join Eurovision. I don't why but that's what my mind and brain says...

I honestly don't know why Australia is in it. Maybe for the laughs?

@OnTopOfTheWorld Well, Australia's queen is Elizabeth II, and that is a European monarch, so... maybe.

but why are they even in Eurovision??

Australia has indeed been broadcasting Eurovision since 1983:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

Rating: True

Wow they had a big dream

I all knew that Australia was in Eurovision

And now we're having TWO Aussies in it this year!

Tonight I'm gonna show you...

America just started broadcasting it last year. Maybe in 30 years we'll be in the same position as Australia.

Meh, last year they should have won, that would be a real fun (and slap in the face on the show's name!) because then we would hear which European country they want to host in (that's still the rule, they had to decide on one of the European countries). Honestly, I think they have UK in mind and seeing their poor results in the past few years, they would obv be thrilled.

@loona Hasn't Israel hosted it? Israel isn't any more european than Australia is. So if Israel can host it, I don't see the problem with Australia hosting it.

@Tjalve Same can be said for Azerbaijan I agree. But it was said it won't be hosted there even if they win.

@Tjalve
Member countries within the EBU boundaries are eligible to participate.

This is why Israel can compete and why Morocco competed once.

Australia is technically not in the boundaries, but has associate member status.


And I believe that Australia is too far away from most of the participating countries to host. Oh, and jet lag.

@Tjalve #9596401  
Israel is slightly closer to Europe than Australia is.

@loona
Why would we have the UK in mind? Maybe Belgium?

Because the Queen is your sovereign? I was actually guessing so there's no indication it would actually happen if they won. Guess we will have to see this year if Australia wins. (But I don't see anywhere Isaiah is a favorite, will come to the finale but not much will happen there)

Actually, Australia was a guest, and before that it was probably only for the fun they broadcasted it. Honestly this show is really incredible. =D

@Ordung
Det plejer de heller ikke at være. Deres deltagelse sidste år var ikke andet end en éngangsforestilling.