Actor Toni Collette seeks PETA apology, supports Aussie farmers

22 Jul '05

3 min read

Australian film star Toni Collette has received widespread praise from the Australian wool industry after she clarified her position on the Australian wool industry.

After PETA had presented Ms Collette with anti-mulesing propaganda, she wrote to Australian Prime Minister John Howard urging him to “ban mulesing of Australian sheep”. But, after the Australian wool industry presented Ms Collette with the facts on mulesing, she wrote to the industry stating her support of Australian farmers.

Toni Collette is not the first high profile Australian to have felt compelled to clarify their position after being used in PETA publicity campaigns. One example is former Australian Test Cricketer, Greg Chappell who refuted claims that he was an ambassador for PETA.

"I wish to refute the claim by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals that I am or will be a spokesperson for that organisation," Chappell said in a statement in May this year.

"Some years ago I gave permission to a representative of the PETA organisation to reprint a book of mine for use in Indian market to promote a healthy lifestyle.

"At no stage did I agree to become an Ambassador for their wider campaigns.

"I will be contacting PETA and asking them for an apology," Chappell said in his statement.

Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce spokesperson Robert Pietsch warmly welcomed Toni Collette's letter, saying that the turnaround showed that fact prevailsover fiction.

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