MP Andrew Hastie who has had sufficient knowledge and experience in defence matters is right in warning us of China's influences and activities which are developing throughout the world.

He should be given credit for his timely advice and not be discredited by ill-informed politicians who often lack real knowledge of international security situations.

China has been systematically building its influence throughout South-East Asia and the Pacific through its foreign investment programs. Within our own region it has developed considerable demands, not only on our non-renewable resources, but also on our wool, livestock and horticulture industries.

Its 'belts and roads initiative' has also been established with several of our island nations to our immediate north which means that those small nations will be held to its demands.

Already, it has been active in the South China Sea by constructing defence facilities on small atolls and reefs where it can now dominate the extremely important shipping lanes by, if it desires, preventing the free passage of shipping.

In Australia, foreign ownership has increased in both urban and agricultural land. Thirteen per cent of our farmland includes a degree of foreign interests. Also, 7 per cent of the financial value of Australia's farmland has foreign ownership interests. China based organisations are part of these interests.

Our island nation needs to look far more closely at China and monitor its rapidly developing influences, interests and activities

Suicide is defined as the act of intentionally ending one's own life.

Before the Suicide Act 1961, it was a crime to commit suicide, and anyone who attempted and failed could be prosecuted and imprisoned, while the families of those who succeeded could also potentially be prosecuted.

The suicide debate would open another can of worms no doubt. So it's about time people realised that it is time to negate an archaic law regarding abortion in the state of NSW. When will those who oppose such a bill, wake up to the fact that it is about decriminalisng something that should never have been criminal to begin with. I think that the bill as amended is a good one, and I commend Justin Clancy on his decision.

Incidentally I don't like the idea of ending a life, but I do believe that we as humans should be allowed to make decisions regarding ourselves. We live in an enlightened world with so many breakthroughs in science that we have choice.

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