Why can't Australia compete in Eurovsion?

It seems like quite an easy question to answer, Australia can't compete in Eurovision because it isn't in Europe, right? Well it isn't quiet that simple. Indeed there have been countries geographically outside of Europe competing since 1973. Indeed 3 West Asian nations (Israel, Cyprus and Armenia), 1 North African (Morocco) and 4 transcontinental nations (Turkey, Russia, Georgia and last years winner Azerbaijan) have competed in Eurovision. So non-european countries can enter Eurovision!

Technically Australia can't compete in Eurovision because it can't have an active member broadcaster in the European Broadcast Union (EBU). To be in the EBU the broadcaster must be in the European Broadcasting Area, or be in a Council of Europe member country.  The definition of the European Broadcasting Area is made by the International Telecommunication Union: "European Broadcasting Area: is bounded on the west by the western boundary of Region 1, on the east by the meridian 40° East of Greenwich and on the south by the parallel 30° North so as to include the northern part of Saudi Arabia and that part of those countries bordering the Mediterranean within these limits. In addition, Iraq, Jordan and that part of the territory of Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and Ukraine lying outside the above limits are included in the European Broadcasting Area."

Clearly Australia isn't a member of the Council of Europe, and we cannot have a broadcaster in the European Broadcasting Area. It is true that under the current rules we cannot be an active member of the EBU. We do have three associate members of the EBU FreeTV, ABC and current Eurovision broadcaster SBS. It is clearly stated that being an associate member does not allow a country entry into the Eurovision system.

It is clear that for Australia to compete in Eurovision these rules would have to be changed, or an exception would have to be made. Perhaps allowing associate member nations to compete in Eurovision allow for the competition to continue to grow outside Europe. If that would allow to many nations to apply, the EBU could introduce an extra level of membership above associate and below full member (such as a special associate), which allows for the entry into the Eurovision system with special constraints which preserve the integrity of the system suchs as live broadcasting guarantees, hosting restrictions and revocation rights.