| Year: | 2024 |
| Country: | Australia |
| Preselection: | Internal selection |
| Preselection Date: | 5 March 2024 |
| Entrant: | Electric Fields |
| Song: | One Milkali (One Blood) |
| Sf Result: | Failed to qualify (11th) |
Australia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, with "One Milkali (One Blood)" performed by Electric Fields. The Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) internally selected the Australian entry for the contest.
See main article: Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) had broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia since 1983, and the contest had gained a cult following over that time, primarily due to the country's strong political and cultural ties with Europe. Paying tribute to this, the semi-finals included an interval act featuring Australian singer Jessica Mauboy.[1] Australian singers had also participated at Eurovision as representatives of other countries, including Olivia Newton-John, two-time winner Johnny Logan (and,), Gina G (United Kingdom), and Jane Comerford as lead singer of Texas Lightning .[2]
Australia was first invited to the Eurovision Song Contest in, as a guest participant to celebrate the 60th edition of the event, being granted automatic entry into the final along with the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the host country of Austria.[3] The country had since competed in every edition of the contest, i.e. eight times, being required to qualify from its semi-final since 2016. In, Australia was represented by Voyager and the song "Promise"; the country qualified for the final, ending in ninth place with 151 points.[4]
On 12 February 2019, SBS signed a contract securing Australia's spot at the contest until 2023.[5] On 21 September 2023, the broadcaster revealed that it was in talks with the EBU to secure the country's participation in future editions,[6] later confirming that it would broadcast the 2024 contest.[7] [8] Australia ultimately appeared on the final list of participants on 5 December 2023.[9]
On 15 February 2024, SBS announced that it had internally selected the Australian entrant and entry for the contest and that they would be revealed on 6 March (corresponding to 5 March in other competing countries), with a snippet of the song published two days prior to its release.[10] [11] The entrants were announced to be Electric Fields with the song "One Milkali (One Blood)"; the duo had finished runner-up in the first edition of Eurovision – Australia Decides in with the song "2000 and Whatever".[12] The song was the first Eurovision entry to feature words in the Yankunytjatjara language.[13]
As part of the promotion of their participation in the contest, Electric Fields attended the Copenhagen Eurovision Party (Malmöhagen) on 4 May 2024.[14]
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) were required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country would perform in; the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[15] Australia was scheduled for the second half of the first semi-final.[16] The shows' producers then decided the running order for the semi-finals; Australia was set to perform in position 13.[17]
In Australia, all the shows are being aired on the SBS channel, as well as on the broadcaster's online platform SBS On Demand.[7] [12] Commentary is provided by Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey, with Courtney Act joining as backstage correspondent.[13] [18]
Electric Fields took part in technical rehearsals on 28 April and 1 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 6 and 7 May.[19] For their performance of "One Milkali|i=no (One Blood)" at the contest, they were accompanied on stage by backing singers Brendan Maclean, Alyson Joyce and Simi Vuata, didgeridoo player Fred Leone, and a dancer; LED lighting was heavily used, with the background art being a work by Electric Fields' singer Zaachariaha Fielding.[20] [21]
Australia performed in position 13, following the entry from and before the entry from .[17] The country was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Australia placed 11th with 41 points.
See also: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest. Below is a breakdown of points awarded by and to Australia in the first semi-final and in the final. Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting in the final vote, while the semi-final vote was based entirely on the vote of the public.[22] The Australian jury consisted of Jane Albert, Alfie Arcuri, Meagan Loader, Mia Rodriguez, and Mason Watts.[23] [24] In the first semi-final, Australia placed 11th with 41 points. Over the course of the contest, Australia awarded its 12 points to in the first semi-final, and to (jury) and (televote) in the final.[25] [26]
The spokesperson for the Australian jury at the final was Danny Estrin, who represented as part of the group Voyager.[27]
Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. Each jury, and individual jury member, is required to meet a strict set of criteria regarding professional background, as well as diversity in gender and age. No member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.[28] The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.
The following members comprised the Australian jury:[23] [24]
| + | ||||
| Draw | Country | Televote | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Points | |||
| 01 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 02 | 11 | |||
| 03 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 04 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 05 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 06 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 07 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 08 | 12 | |||
| 09 | 8 | 3 | ||
| 10 | 6 | 5 | ||
| 11 | 13 | |||
| 12 | 14 | |||
| 13 | ||||
| 14 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 7 | 4 | ||
| + |