Act of Necessity

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2014}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| director = Ian Munro

| producer = Pamela Williams

| writer = Pamela Williams

| based_on =

| narrator =

| starring = Angie Milliken
Mark Owen-Taylor
Wendy Strehlow

| music = Nigel Westlake

| cinematography = Steve Windon

| editor =

| company = Film Australia
Channel 4

| channel = ABC

| released = {{Start date|1991|05|08|df=y}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = Australia

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Act of Necessity is an Australian 1991 television film about a couple who believe their daughter's cancer is caused by chemicals.Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p3 It was the fifth in a series of docu-dramas about social issues made by Film Australia. It had an improvised script and features actors working alongside actual people form government, law and medicine. It culminated in a trial before a real judge and the outcome was not known until the judge made his ruling.{{Citation | last= Hooks | first= Barbara | title= Ambitious, emotive work a pinnacle for reality-drama | periodical = The Age | date= 8 May 1991 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122360336 | last= Wallace | first= Mark |title=Real-life courtroom drama with actors |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=65 |issue=20,477 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 May 1991 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |page=34 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The film looks at the potential dangers from chemicals used on cotton crops. The Australian Cotton Foundation and the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia both tried to get it banned.{{Citation | last= Powell | first= Sian | title= Cottoning on to drama | periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald | date= 6 May 1991 }}