Cairns Post: Friends move to clear airwaves

Source: Cairns Post 13 March 2010
A LOBBY group created to "reform" Cairns' troubled community radio station says it has made little progress in efforts to negotiate an agreement with the station's managers.

And a volunteer presenter of five years is battling to renew his membership at Cairns FM 89.1 after being expelled over an allegation that he threatened to "thump" the station's vice-president.

Michael Hyams said the allegation was false, and he had been targeted because he had questioned the station's management.

Cairns councillors Linda Cooper and Di Forsyth, who were present when the threat was allegedly made, said they did not hear it.

The "Friends" group was formed after a string of problems and disputes at the station.

Six of nine committee members have left after their election in September, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority found in January the station did not have compliant policies in areas such as community participation and complaints handling.

A second investigation has followed the station, which is mainly reliant on taxpayer funded cash, was unfairly refusing to admit new members.

Mr Hyams, a member of the Friends group, said he was appealing against his expulsion, which took effect when he declined to meet station management to defebd the allegation.

"I felt that was just like the Spanish Inquisition - your judges are your accusers," he said. "It's completely conmtrived."

Station manager Rodney Coutts declined to comment, saying the matters were being handled by a solicitor.

Photo caption: Off te air: Presenter Michael Hyams has been accused of threatening to "thump" the vice-president at FM 89.1.