Allocation of four community radio broadcasting licences for ... - ACMA

parent) in 1997. The 1996 Census indicates that there were 139,386 unemployed in
Melbourne or 5.7% of the total population.
Triple Seven points out that the survey conducted by NCLS Research revealed that
45.9% of the Australian adult population had used a welfare organisation either for
themselves or on behalf of a close relative and of these, almost half were run by a
church or religious organisation.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community
There is no Census data available on the size of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT) community in Melbourne. The ABA accepts that there are
social factors which make it difficult to accurately assess the size of the community
in the Melbourne licence area that JOY claims to represent.
JOY stated that the gay and lesbian community is difficult to quantify with a high
degree of precision. JOY cites the Kinsey Report of 1953 as being a widely acceptable
indicator. Kinsey stated that the proportion of the population that identifies as gay and
lesbian is between 7-10%. JOY states that to date there has been no completed
population-based studies of sexual practices undertaken in Australia, and that the figures
of 10% males and 6% females have been used as general indicators of the prevalence of
gay and lesbian people in western countries. Therefore, JOY estimates the size of its
community of interest to be approximately 316,000 people (9.98%) in the Melbourne
area. Moreover, JOY estimates that its community aged 18 years or above is 249,971
persons. (This estimate is based on a 9.5% prevalence rate of same-gender sexually
active adults, and an estimated population in the Melbourne licence area of 3,466,743
people as at 30 June 2000). JOY states that its community is fluid in that it is comprised
of those overlapping constructs that engage with the gay community, self-identify as
gay, or are same-gender sexually active.
JOY claim that there is a sizeable community due to the extensive network of gay
and lesbian community organisations throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area,
an estimated attendance in excess of 100,000 at the annual Midsumma Gay and
Lesbian festival, and the estimated 50,000 participants in the Annual Pride March.
On the basis of the evidence before it, the ABA accepts that the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender community within the Melbourne licence area is of a
significant size.
General community who enjoy comedy recordings
Laugh Radio claims to represent the general community who enjoy listening to
comedy recordings by past and present performers, local performers and creators of
original comedy material.
Laugh Radio estimates the size of its audience at approximately 100,000 based on
the results of an independent telephone survey conducted of 1,280 respondents over
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