Eurovision is just around the corner, so SBS has unveiled its final lineup.
Australia’s 2022 Eurovision jury will include stand-up comedian, author and radio presenter Matt Okine as well as Triple J radio host Bridget Hustwaite and TV and radio legend Dylan Lewis. Milly Petriella, the director of member relations and partnerships at APRA AMCOS, will round out the panel alongside Australia’s Eurovision representative and performer from last year, Montaigne.
The national jury is allocated 50% of the country’s Eurovision voting rights.
The other 50% comes down to the general public, who can vote in both the semi-final in which their country is participating, as well as the grand final.
For Australian viewers, the semi final will be broadcast on SBS live at 5 a.m. (AEST) on Friday, May 13. The Grand final will be at 5 a.m. on Sunday.
The public vote in Australia will take place solely via a new online voting platform, meaning there will be no SMS or televoting. Participating, however, will still cost 55 cents per vote and will be limited to 20 per person.
Voters and jury members cannot vote for their own country’s participant.
Courtney Act has been appointed as Australia’s Eurovision spokesperson and will deliver Australia’s voting results to the global audience.
Act noted it’s not her first attempt to make it into the Eurovision song contest.
“I tried the Eurovision front door on “Eurovision – Australia Decides” 2019 to no avail, so now it’s the Eurovision side door to be the Aussie score announcer on the big night,” Act said.
“I’m so excited to cheer on Sheldon, look fab and enjoy a magnificent night of camp and music.”
Australia’s Eurovision representative for 2022 is Sheldon Riley, who was a finalist in the 2018 season of “The Voice Australia”.
Avant-garde performance artist Riley beat out other hopefuls, including Jaguar Jonze and G-Nat!on, to become Australia’s representative at this year’s Eurovision.
His song ‘Not The Same’ is the story he never thought he’d be able to tell, he said.
“Written from the memories of a child who at age six was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Growing up in public housing, moving from home to home, unaware of my sexuality, among a deeply religious family. A path already laid that I would never be able to properly understand or interact with other people,” Riley said of the song’s meaning.