One of the ways that China can be forced to modify its actions is to implement world wide trade bans. That is, to stop buying from and selling to China. As a major supplier of raw materials to China we could be called upon, or even forced, by the US and Europe to hold back supply, and to stop sourcing goods from China. Such a move would be a major shock to our economy. Anyone who thinks we should be cosying up to China is turning a blind eye to their very long term plans to totally dominate their region, and that includes Australia.

EARLIER this year, I wrote in this newspaper about Joel Fitzgibbon standing up for what he believed in by resigning from the opposition front bench late last year. He has now decided to retire from politics and states that he feels the time is right and he's happy that Labor has moved to more centre ground. This, of course, remains to be seen but personally I do think that Mr Fitzgibbon represented the blue-collar workers of years gone by and fought hard for their cause. As I remember, that was what the Labor Party mainly stood for and strived to help the "battlers''. Unfortunately, the blue collar workers are now a minority due to a number of reasons and no longer have the strength with dwindling numbers and union membership etc. Realistically we will never see those days again in our lifetime but do thank and congratulate Mr Fitzgibbon and wish him well in the future.

IT is quite amazing that Supercars would still be allowed to disrupt and pollute our major regional capital, Newcastle ever again, especially after it has been turfed from Surfers on the grounds that it is too disruptive. What about Novocastrians, are we judged a lesser race?

I believe it really is completely scandalous that this polluting and dangerous activity be allowed to be put on in residential and heritage-listed areas like Newcastle East.

The residents will again be disturbed at least eight weeks of next year as the roads are shaped and altered, the fencing goes in, and the surrounding pedestrian friendly parkland is turned into revhead paradise.

There are race tracks in the Hunter already. Use one of them!

THE number of Australians living with dementia is close to half a million - a number that is set to double in the next 25 years - with an estimated 1.6 million people involved in their care.

In New South Wales there are an estimated 157,000 people living with dementia.

Many people living with dementia can continue to live well after their diagnosis, which is why the theme for Dementia Action Week 2021, 20 - 26 September, is 'A little support makes a big difference'.

The national awareness raising campaign will continue to lead the discussion about discrimination, which we know has a big impact on people living with dementia, their families and carers.

This year Dementia Australia will provide information and tips to encourage all Australians to increase their understanding of dementia and learn how they can make a difference to the lives of people around them who are impacted - and to help eliminate discrimination.

The good news is that a lot can be done to improve the experience for people living with dementia and carers.

To find out how you can make a difference please visit www.dementia.org.au.

TONY Abbott is at it again, sadly. He was caught and photographed not wearing a mask on Manly beach but firmly insists that he has done no wrong, compounding the original breach. Obviously angry and upset that his photo was taken and a passerby "dobbed" on him, he went on to say that he never thought that dobbing and snitching was part of the Australian character.

Earlier this year hundreds of Australians phoned a hotline to dob in someone they identified in the crowd of demonstrators, mostly anti-vaxxers, and most Aussies were glad that they did. I would like to ask Tony Abbott this question: if one of your family members was injured in a car accident but the perpetrator fled the scene insisting that they had done no wrong, would you believe that someone should dob if they had seen the number plate or had taken a photo at the scene?

Wearing a mask is mandatory just as it is against the law to flee the scene of an accident. Tony Abbott, just follow the law and do the right thing. The law applies to you as well as everyone else. Dobbing for the protection of others is the Australian thing to do.

IN response to John Bonnyman's comments that both Premier Palaszczuk and McGowan have done a better job than Berejiklian, like most people who find the need to complain or knock others they never let facts get in the way.

NSW has take the lion's share of returning Australians since the lockdowns started in 2020. NSW have lost less days to lockdowns as a state, has been the best performing state economically, so I'll take Gladys over the arrogant McGowan and heartless Palaszczuk every day of the week

THE self-righteous ones in this COVID calamity are not the people that aren't wearing masks outdoors, where there is a minimal risk of transmission, it's our "leaders" the state premiers, the prime minister and their medical expert advisors that are the self-righteous ones; they can do no wrong.

SURELY by now even the most rusted on, one eyed Coalition voter must be questioning the integrity and competence of the NSW and Commonwealth governments. It's not just the failure and botched COVID vaccine and quarantine response, it's all the scandals, rorts, pork barrelling, privatising, wasting of taxpayer money, spin and unaccountability that render both unfit to govern.The next election can't come soon enough.

THE discussion should not be about the vaccination status of Supercars fans, but about whether we need this elitist, loss-making, council-subsidised event disrupting our streets for another 10 weeks.

THE Australian taxpayers provide a residence in Canberra for our PM. It should be mandated that any future PM should reside there for the duration of his/her tenure. Why provide and maintain such a facility if it is not to be fully utilised.

WARREN Hardy, my colleagues and I have actually been relentless in our pleas to this government to stop the spread of COVID to Newcastle from Sydney. If you'd bothered to ask, I could have provided you with a very comprehensive list (including stories detailing these efforts in this very newspaper), but it seems you'd rather make an incorrect assumption than pick up the phone.

WHAT does Warren Hardy want state MPs to do? Go down and blow up the Hawkesbury Bridge? It's the state government's responsibility to enforce lockdown and they have done a woeful job. Put the blame where it belongs; the NSW government.

IT'S marvellous how the Knights don't perform well under referee Ashley Klein. I have a long memory of the time he refereed the Knights and Manly a couple years ago when Uate was playing with Manly. Uate went for a try in the corner and dropped the ball from around about his knees, Klein called a try and it went to the bunker, and the bunker agreed with him. But it was pretty obvious on the replays that it was dropped. Here we are in a semi final and another dropped ball, but the opposition get the rub of the green and get the call. We might not have won, but that last five minutes might have been a bit more interesting.

A CARGO ship off Port of Newcastle carrying infected crew members. Please don't let Gladys or Health Hazzard near it. No Ruby Princess repeat for the Hunter.

AS a double COVID vaccinated person who is looking forward to a booster shot, I will welcome with open arms any of my unvaccinated fellow citizens in any social setting. Nothing to fear but fear itself.

I WONDER how Carl Stevenson (Letters, 13/9) could get it so wrong. The Liberal MPs are the only ones to choose and vote for their leader. The more democratic Labor chooses theirs first by a postal ballot by all party members, grass roots. Then a vote by the caucus, nothing more than the members of Parliament just like the Liberal Party. No unions, no mystery people. To win the Labor leadership, you have to win both.

FINS on fish can't be called feathers, no matter how much they try and fluff them out to dry as if they had never been in the water.