Following the news that Australia would hold an internal selection for Eurovision 2023, SBS has announced that the artist and song will be released tomorrow (21st February 2023). The song will premiere on the official Eurovision YouTube at 19.30 CET.
Following the semi-final allocation draw, Australia will perform in the second half of semi-final two on the 11th May.
Australia Decides no more
It had been speculated that SBS would retire the national selection. This was due to the fact that Australia Decides did not appear in the broadcaster’s future plans. However, it has since been confirmed that SBS will revert back to an internal selection for 2023. It is the first time since 2018 that Australia has internally selected their entry for the Contest.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster told Australian site TV Tonight:
We are thrilled to confirm that Australia will once again compete in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest next year, with hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey at the helm.
However, after three years of celebrating and working with local music artists through our Eurovision selection show, Eurovision: Australia Decides, we’ve made the difficult decision not to go ahead with the program in 2023.
SBS spokesperson
The retirement of the selection method comes as Australia reaches a crossing point in its Eurovision journey. Currently, there is a contract between the EBU and SBS to allow Australia to participate. The contract was signed in 2019 and guaranteed Australian participation until 2023. However, with this contract expiring after the upcoming Contest, Australia is hoping to secure another contract to continue their participation.
Australia’s Eurovision journey
Being the latest country to debut into the Eurovision Song Contest; Australia debuted into the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, with Guy Sebastian representing the land down-under with his entry “Tonight Again”, where they managed to place 5th. Since their debut, they have managed to participate every single year into the competition. In 2022, Australia was represented by Sheldon Riley, with his song “Not the Same”, which managed to qualify for the final and finish 15th, with 125 points.
Are you excited to hear Australia’s song? Who would you like to see represent them at Eurovision this year As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we look ahead to Eurovision 2023!
News Source: Eurovision
Photo Credit: EBU/Nathan Reinds
