2005 News
Australian tennis ace delivers a strong volley against animal rights extremists
"We welcome today's strong comments by Margaret Court, who is not only a tennis legend, but is also someone who can speak from first-hand experience about farming ..." - National Farmers' Federation President, Mr Peter Corish
Australian tennis great Margaret Court has today delivered a strong statement in defence of Australian sheep and wool farmers who are under attack from animal rights extremists, National Farmers' Federation President, Mr Peter Corish said.
"An ongoing campaign of misinformation by animal rights extremists has misled the community about animal welfare practices on Australian farms," Mr Corish said.
"We welcome today's strong comments by Margaret Court, who is not only a tennis legend, but is also someone who can speak from first-hand experience about farming and the agonising consequences to sheep of flystrike.
"Hopefully Margaret Court's contribution to the debate will help the Australian public gain a greater understanding about mulesing and why it is a necessary and highly-effective flystrike management practice."
Mrs Court's statement came after tennis champion Martina Navratilova wrote to Prime Minister John Howard on Tuesday to seek a ban on mulesing.
Mr Corish said it was unfortunate that the animal rights extremist organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had misinformed Martina Navratilova about mulesing and had failed to provide her with the facts about the high standards of animal welfare on Australian farms.
"I would welcome the opportunity, on behalf of NFF and the Australian Sheep and Wool Industry Taskforce, to provide Martina Navratilova with a full briefing on this issue," Mr Corish said.
"Australian farmers couldn't agree more with Martina Navratilova about the importance of animal welfare - we do not condone cruelty to animals in any circumstances.
"The fact is that without mulesing, millions of sheep would die in agony in a bad flystrike year in Australia."