Pleas of an ex CCBI member capriciously expelled by Coutts

As Chairperson of Friends, I was handed the below quoted letter. The letter has been sent to ACMA by Mr Michael Hyams a member and presenter of CCBI who had his membership terminated capriciously and without proper redress to appeal procedures.

It should be noted by readers that Mr Coutts' Management Committee that revoked Mr Hyams's membership was the very body that was going to hear Mr Hyams'appeal.

I will let you form your own opinion on procedural fairness and the application of natural justice as administered by Mr Coutts.

To: Alexander.ash@ACMA.gov.au

Sent: Friday 16th April, 2010 11:05:10 AM

Subject: Membership of 4CCR 89.1

My membership of 4CCR was revoked by the management committee on spurious and totally false grounds that I had allegedly uttered words to another member which were taken to be threatening. The mere idea of a 78 year old man of modest stature would do such a thing is beyond comprehension unless of course one takes into account Mr. Coutts determination to remove me from the membership, at whatever cost.

I was given the opportunity to attend a management meeting to, in their words, defend myself. I ignored the invitation. Being a Jew I know that from the evidence of the Spanish Inquisition that being expected to being judged by my accusers only had one inevitable end, being found guilty and being humiliated into the bargain.

Instead I wrote requesting an appeal under Section 21(c) of the rules. That was weeks ago, and requires the management to refer the matter to a Special meeting. The only reply I got was that the matter was "being referred to our Solicitors" I can achieve no progress in this direction. The Solicitors will not take my phone calls and are ignoring me. I am thus in Limbo.

And at the same time the management is expending more funds(public money)on legal advice.I NEED SOME HELP.

All of this says nothing about numerous other matters reported to you by the Friends of 4CCR and Mr.Donn Corcoran in particular, which one would hope would give your Office, on behalf of your Minister more than enough grounds to intervene. Meantime the stain on my character remains unresolved.

Mr. Coutts is surrounding himself with all manner of defensive prevarication and procrastinating, and when things seem like coming to the boil, he refers everything to "their Solicitors" Heaven knows how much of the Stations' financial resources are being squandered on legal expenses. PLEASE HELP.

On another matter, my wife Elizabeth (usually known as Lisa) is a member, and a past presenter. It has become obvious to her that she is being excluded from receiving any communication from the management, presumably because Mr. Coutts has concluded that, being my wife, she is connected to the "Friends", hardly a justification for treating her any differently from any other paid-up member.

Mr.Coutts ignores every approach made to him on the subject, but I have little doubt that, come June 30th when memberships are due to be renewed he will attempt to prevent her from renewing her membership. Were she not presently recovering from a knee replacement operation, I have no doubt she would confront him in person.

It seems on advice I am given, that membership of the Friends is a certain recipe for being "struck off". Again, I NEED HELP. The present management are flying in the face of your requirements about open membership.

I apologise for my verbosity, but write in profound frustration. Nobody wants to see the station restored to its once held position of respect in Cairns more than me.

Thank you,
Michael Hyams