Bob Carr joins NSW politicians in push to ban dolphin captivity

Bob Carr has joined NSW Labor, Greens and Animal Justice Party MPs to announce proposed legislation to ban dolphin captivity.

• Exclusive: A baby dolphin dead, a park under siege

Bob Carr has joined New South Wales MPs from Labor, the Greens and the Animal Justice Party to announce a proposal to end dolphin captivity in the state.

If passed, the legislation would affect the one remaining dolphinarium in NSW - Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour - which was opened in 1970.

Mr Carr told reporters at a press conference in Sydney that keeping dolphins in captivity was "plain cruel" and needed to end.

"We think the crooked smile on the face of a dolphin shows that they are enjoying captivity," he said. "Captivity is in fact driving them mad."

Bob Carr speaks to reporters in Sydney on Thursday. Mr carr was instrumental in closing three dolphin parks in the 1980s. Source: SBS

As a minister in Neville Wran's government in the 1980s, Mr Carr introduced legislation that made it illegal to take dolphins from the wild and put them in pools. The legislation led to the closure of three dolphinariums in NSW but a loophole meant captive breeding could continue, which is how Dolphin Marine Magic stayed open.

Labor MP Penny Sharpe, Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi and Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson, who are co-sponsoring the bill, said they will be lobbying the government for support.

"This is Labor policy," Ms Sharpe said. "Labor has supported ending dolphins in captivity.

"We'll be supporting it in the Parliament and will be urging the government to do the same."

Dolphin Marine Magic has been subject to a number of complaints in recent years from animal welfare group 'Australia for Dolphins', a key driver of the push to end dolphin captivity.

But the park's CEO Paige Sinclair said her business was compliant with all regulations and the animals were treated well.

"I’m a great animal lover and it’s important that in my duty of care, my custodianship, that I make sure these animals are as happy and healthy as they can be," she told SBS.

"These animals have been here, some of them, for many, many years and cannot be released."

SBS visited Dolphin Marine Magic and produced an investigative report on the issue.

Read the full report below: