Also when sacked, that is if people forget their inability of leadership, and of course the 'yes sir' way of doing things, these people are going to sit back and even though we stuffed up - look at my pension - l honestly believe it is time to call a spade a spade and say this whole state government is as handy as a hip pocket in a singlet. Not so unlike the T.R.C.

D Davis, Manilla

There will be people against it but thank heavens that the NRL will start 28/5 and the Group 4 on 18/7. It gives us hope that things might return to normal.

The July start seems hardly worth it though to play for about six weeks and with social distancing there probably will be no crowd allowed in, but that's the world we live in now. At this point the State of Origin and Grand Final series could be played with once again no crowd admittance which will be very strange indeed as will running a Bathurst 1000 without a single camper on the Mountain.

Graeme Reeves, Calala

I am getting annoyed with the number of companies now telling me how concerned they are for me during this COVID-19 virus time. Don't they care about me the rest of the time?

Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill

Chaoyang District is located in Beijing China, the heart of the government and the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Chaoyang is one of the five sister cities of Tamworth Regional Council. Sister city relationships are often entered into by local government, it is there decision, however the same cannot be said with China, it is a process oversighted by the CCP through the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

This organisation is another insight to the stealth of the influence the CCP is engaging throughout the world by influencing and advancing the CCP's political and strategic agenda.

These sister-city relationships only benefit China in its pursuit to make the foreign serve China. As Lenin said, "the useful idiots".

In Peter Hartcher's recent essay Red Flag he writes that Australia and China have got rich together, for Australia that is quite enough, but China wants more, as much power and influence over Australia as it can possibly get, using fair means or foul. This influence can be seen in the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews signing a Belt and Road agreement with China, in other words with the CCP. The contents of this agreement are secret therefore the total influence on all of Australia are known only to a select few. What influence does Tamworth's sister-city relationship with Chaoyang have on Tamworth and Australia, it certainly would not be favourable to us.

Tamworth no doubt entered into the relationship with good will and friendship in mind, the same cannot be said of Chaoyang as it is solely controlled by the CCP, an authoritarian political party far removed from democracy that we readily accept.

To Tamworth friendship is mateship, a lasting good willed association where we may jointly benefit and socialise. However to the CCP it can only mean a friend that acts in the their interest and this means often against the interests of their own country. Tamworth does not need this type of so called friendship.

The CCP is controlled by Xi Jinping, self proclaimed ruler for life, he reveres Mao, he has displayed the characteristics of Mao, he has prevented any criticism of Mao's Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution which was responsible for at least 40 million deaths. Do we revere Hilter or Stalin, never. History should tell the true story of the murderous leadership of Mao, Xi thinks otherwise.

Does Tamworth wish to remain in a friendship with Chaoyang and under the influence of the CCP and Xi?

The CCP has influenced state and federal politicians - Carr, Liu, Dastyari, Wong, universities with their Confucius Institutes, along with trade, real estate and agriculture in there purchase and control. The manner in which China lied about the COVID-19 virus must surely demonstrate the totalitarian and inhumane manner of this country. Local Government is perhaps only a small player within the overall influence of the CCP, but it's coercion is undisputed.

The sovereignty of Australia must be paramount over decisions by state and local government, to say otherwise would be a great mistake. Our destiny is for and by Australians it should not be dictated to by a foreign power, it is our democracy.

The Tamworth Regional Council must end their flawed friendship with Chaoyang, anything less would be a betrayal to the people and the sovereignty of Australia.

B M Goodall, Manilla