http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/RC741/Eurovision%20Logos/Flag%20Logos/Australia_zpsthq0xdfr.png

One of the burning questions for next year's contest is whether Australia will be allowed to stay in the competition beyond their one-off anniversary invite this year. Lee suggested to me earlier to make a poll on the matter, so here we are!

SBS have been quoted as saying they are trying to negotiate future participation, and Australia are taking part in next month's Junior Eurovision despite that contest not having any anniversary attached. Furthermore Australia have withdrawn from the ABU TV Song Festival, have they had a better offer from the EBU?

That said, if Australia were allowed to stay - would they pay so much and become a member of a big 6? Or would they have to go through the semi-finals, and therefore the EBU risking the wrath of whoever comes 11th in a semi-final in which Australia finish top 10?

Vote what you WANT and THINK will happen in the polls above!

I definitely 100% DO want them to return, the more the merrier and if they can keep up the quality :heart: And in the end I'm thinking they will be allowed to in some capacity.

 

I don't care too much whether they'd be automatically in the final again or having to try and qualify, can't really predict it either without knowing how much they're willing to pay.

It's going to be an unpopular opinion I know but I don't want Australia back. I wasn't mad on the idea in the first place and even though I came around to it in the end, what did it really achieve? Viewing figures didn't sky rocket despite the extra publicity. 'Tonight Again' is a good song, but it's nothing special and certainly won't go down as a Eurovision classic.

 

That said, the fact they are in Junior Eurovision (I mean the desperation to keep that sinking ship afloat is nauseating) really scares me that the EBU want them back. And I can see SBS chucking as much money as is possible for them to secure that return, enough for a automatic spot in the final.

 

I think it could be a real slippery slope for the contest when you've got China knocking on the door to allow Australia to participate full time.

I also definitely want them to return judging by the very high quality entries so far, and I can see the argument for their connections to Europe etc.

 

I was becoming less convinced they would be allowed to return until it was revealed they were taking part in Junior Eurovision. Now I'm thinking they will be allowed to stay, and they will probably pay a lot and become part of a big 6 as to not reduce the chances of the European countries in the semi-finals.

I'm up for letting them return as I'm generally under 'the more the merrier' camp. EVEN to the likes of China and that because it'll never get so big it becomes unmanageable. Eurovision fans are there, let's let them at it.

 

It's awkward with the 'would they be in the semis or AQ' issue because there are problems either way with other European countries potentially getting mad. I have no preference either way as to how that'd turn out if they are back.

No, thank you.

It was a lovely gesture to have them in 2015 and they did put on a show and a half but that's it for me. SBS is not a full member of the EBU.

Maybe a return for the 70th contest.

I would have them back because if they're willing to pay the money (iirc the amount you pay is in accordance to your population/GDP and it's non negotiable so IDK if they'd even be able to force their way through to the final by chucking money at it but stranger things have happened) and if they're willing to make an effort, unlike the UK and Ireland of late then I don't really see what the problem is.

 

Essentially I just think of Australia as like the Israel/Cyprus thing but on a bigger scale.

They've got so much good music to share, if they contribute and pay then sure, not really bothered whether they AQ or have to do semis, it would depend on their contribution I suppose.

Yes please. I adore Australia and I would love them to come back as a full participant.

Yep. I thought they got into the spirit of it this year far more than most of the countries that already go in, and I don't really see the downside. I would prefer them to go through the semis though - a Big Six plus the host every year would feel like a bit of a liberty and lord knows 27 DRAGGED, even without the disaster that was the running order.