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We start with some pop fun: Australia’s Eurovision hopes are being put to the test in Vienna, Austria, where Delta Goodrem is (at the time of writing) just about to hit the stage to perform her song Eclipse.
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In more weighty news, migrant advocates have accused Angus Taylor of using his budget reply speech to “chase votes with dog whistles, fear and division” and accusing him of a “blatant lie” by saying migrants were able to access welfare payments when they arrived in Australia. More coming up.
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Four Australian citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak off the coiast of Africa, will land in Perth this afternoon after the government secured a suitable aircraft and crew for the journey. More coming up.
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Key events
Of course, the judges are only half the equation – there’s also the public vote, where fans can vote by phone or SMS, up to 10 times (but not for their own country).
This is where the peculiar politics of Europe come in, because politically, culturally or geographically aligned nations will usually vote for each other.
Given Australia’s distance, we might be disadvantaged here. The top 10 from tonight’s show go on to the grand final on Sunday (Austria, as hosts, automatically qualify).
We’ll find out soon – the UK entry is on now with some nonsense, then there are three more songs before the votes start being tallied.
Nick Miller
Delta Goodrem performs in Eurovision semi
There was a harp. There was a sparkly dress. A lot of smoke. A crescent moon.
Yes, there was a mid-song key change, in the best traditions of Eurovision cheese.
And there was Delta, ascending into the rafters on a column that emerged proudly from her grand piano, soaring into space on a last effortless high note.
I’d say she did rather well. We’ll find out later what the judges thought.
Here are some images from Delta Goodrem’s last dress rehearsal before this morning’s semi-final. Looks like quite the production.
We’ll have a full report after the event. In the meantime, do take our Eurovision quiz.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
We start with some pop fun: Australia’s Eurovision hopes are being put to the test in Vienna, Austria, where Delta Goodrem is (at the time of writing) just about to hit the stage to perform her song Eclipse.
In more weighty news, migrant advocates have accused Angus Taylor of using his budget reply speech to “chase votes with dog whistles, fear and division” and accusing him of a “blatant lie” by saying migrants were able to access welfare payments when they arrived in Australia. More coming up.
Four Australian citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak off the coiast of Africa, will land in Perth this afternoon after the government secured a suitable aircraft and crew for the journey. More coming up.
