Politics and community radio have a lot in common, as both claim to be our voice and both fulfil that charter on occasions, but for too much of the time they miss the boat. Both claim to serve the people and again they do when it suits them, but serve themselves for the most part.
Many politicians, at all levels of government, are in it for the right reasons – as are many of the people involved in community radio – but some in both are in it for the power, the ego and the chance to be in the limelight. As a result, both politicians and community radio people spend too much time protecting their turf when they should be doing productive work to enhance the area they operate in.
Both can be guilty of eating their young to maintain their rung on the totem pole.
The big difference is the size of the pay packet, or in the case of community radio the existence of one. Pollies are paid very well by any standard and should be available for their constituents and should listen to what they have to say.
Community radio should stop trying to be a competitor of commercial radio and find its local voice, and some of those voices should be our elected representatives. What better forum for the Member for Tarneit, Werribee or Altona to inform residents of what is happening and to be available to talk to those residents via talkback radio or to answer SMS questions?
The community station would need to remain neutral but an hour a week (no more please) rotated between the federal, state and council representatives would help both to become more of a true and relevant part of the community.
When Tim Pallas appears on radio these days, it is as state treasurer, not the Member for Werribee, so questions about the East Werribee Precinct, the Hoppers Crossing gates or the grant to restore the Werribee water tower are unlikely to get a look in. On a local show they would be front and centre.
So to both parties: Once the dust settles after the November 24 election, how about making it happen?
