The three women, wearing only underwear and some tape to cover their nipples, were protesting inside a cage outside the KFC restaurant on George Street, at the corner of Bathurst Street. They had a banner that read: "Chicks agree, boycott KFC", PETA Asia-Pacific's director Jason Baker said.

Police arrived and arrested the women - aged 20, 22 and 31 - and placed them inside a paddy wagon, Mr Baker said. "One of the officers said: 'We have the new nuisance regulation this week for World Youth Day,'" he said. "I said: 'Are you serious?' I thought it doesn't start until tomorrow, and was [being challenged in court] anyway."

However, a police spokesman said the women were arrested for protesting naked, "which is an offence". "I don't think they were arrested under the new legislation, if that's what you are asking."

The women have not been charged yet and are being questioned at a police station, the police spokesman said. Failure to comply with the new WYD laws can attract a penalty of up to $5500.



But Mr Baker said the group had conducted naked protests in the city before, and no members had been arrested. "I'm shocked. We have protested many times in Sydney, and at this KFC before.

"We had 24 people naked in Pitt Street just six weeks ago ... we've never had problems."



Pamela Anderson protest



Today's protest was a follow-up to the attention drawn last week by Pamela Anderson to KFC's treatment of chickens, Mr Baker said. "The space an average KFC chicken has is about the size of an A4 piece of paper," he said.

"What we are asking KFC to do is implement minimum animal welfare standards." Angus Armstrong, general manager, KFC Australia, told Stay In Touch in a statement last week: "KFC works with Australia's three largest and most reputable chicken suppliers to ensure that our customers enjoy top quality, fresh, great tasting chicken. In addition to KFC, these companies supply to the majority of chicken retailers in Australia and all are members of the Australia Chicken Meat Federation and are subject to some of the highest standards in the world. "KFC does not own or operate any chicken farms but works closely with reputable suppliers, industry and government authorities to ensure the most humane farming methods in accordance with Australian regulations."

Today he issued another statement saying the protesters were "not abreast of chicken farming practices in Australia". "This issue was over-exposed before today's protest," he said. "We do not own or operate chicken farms, but work closely with reputable suppliers, government and industry bodies regarding humane farming methods in accordance with Australia's high standards.

"We're comfortable with freedom of expression, provided the facts are laid bare.



"We buy our chickens from reputable suppliers all of which are members of the Australia Chicken Meat Federation. These suppliers are subject to some of the highest standards in the world."



