Jones eyes Coast Eurovision return
QUEENSLAND Tourism Minister Kate Jones is pushing for Eurovision-Australia Decides’ Gold Coast return after Australia’s place at the competition was locked in for the next five years.
SBS and their production partner Blink TV confirmed yesterday Australia has a secured spot in Eurovision until 2023.
Eurovision-Australia Decides, being held for the first time, attracted thousands to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre last Friday and Saturday nights. It was broadcast live on TV.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the 2019 event was secured because she knew it would boost the local tourism industry.
“It’s great news Eurovision has confirmed Australia’s entry up to 2023,” she said.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is beamed into hundreds of millions of homes across the world. We want to tap into that reach to lure more tourists to the Gold Coast.
“We will definitely be discussing hosting rights for Eurovision-Australia Decides on the Gold Coast in the future.”
Mayor Tom Tate said he would do everything possible to see the Coast have it secured for 2020 and 2021.
“The free-to-air publicity for our city was worth more than $30 million alone, so in every sense this was a huge promotion for our city,” he said.
“What makes this event even more appealing is that the audiences are largely throughout Europe, a key tourism market for our city post the Commonwealth Games.
“I’ll work with Kate Jones on any future bids for now.”
Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista also said they were backing the push to get back to the Broadbeach convention centre.
An SBS spokeswomen told the Bulletin they had “no further announcements” on where Eurovision-Australia Decides would be next year, or if it would be held on the Gold Coast.
Brisbane-born artist Kate Miller-Heidke took out both the public and industry professional vote on Saturday, with her pop banger Zero Gravity.
It was the fifth year Australia has competed in Eurovision and she will now represent the country in Israel in May.