The impossible has happened. Australia has been given the green light – a sequin-covered green flashing light with strobe interludes accompanied by a smoke machine and a euro-disco soundtrack – to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Australian public, which has increasingly taken the show to heart, will also be able to vote.
It's apparently not a joke or a clerical error, although such an error could be excused given Austria, the nation which gave the world the 2014 winner, bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, is the host.
Vienna is the city to be dipped in glitter and sparkles from May 20 to 24, with the final on May 23 in the Stadthalle arena going out to an estimated global audience of 195 million.
But how, you ask? Australia is some 15,000 kilometres from Europe.
Pfffft, details. A video announcement was issued by SBS television this morning, by a breathless Julia Zemiro. The Australian entry will be announced "very shortly", Zemiro said.
That person is likely to be Australian, although if Australia can compete in a longstanding singing competition for European countries, there appear to be no barriers to our bending the rules and claiming Taylor Swift as an Australian entry.
Jessica Mauboy performed at the event last year, in a bizarre routine that somehow featured astronauts and swimmers in budgie smugglers.
WATCH: Jessica Mauboy performing at Eurovision 2014.
In the video SBS released, co-host of SBS's coverage Sam Pang suggested Olivia Newton John, Air Supply, Midnight Oil and AC/DC as possible representatives.
WATCH: SBS have announced Australia will compete in the 60th Eurovision Song Contest.
An SBS statement said: "The deal is a result of SBS's ambition to increase Australia's presence at Eurovision following the success of Jessica Mauboy's performance last year in Denmark.
Australia's enthusiasm for the contest has been embraced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the 2015 host broadcaster ORF who have invited SBS to send an artist to compete as a wild card entry for 2015 in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the contest."
