BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Queensland officials want Steve Irwin to be "Australian of the Year"-- despite an outcry over his use of his baby boy in a crocodile feeding stunt.
Irwin sparked global disgust when he brought his 1-month-old son, Bob, into a pen with a 13-foot crocodile. Holding Bob in his left arm, he dropped a dead chicken into the open jaws of the reptile at his Australia Zoo reptile park.
The stunt drew sharp reaction overseas, including the United States, where Irwin has long enjoyed a cult following.
Child-welfare groups and concerned members of the public criticised Irwin for recklessly endangering his son.
Despite the controversy, acting Queensland Premier Terry Mackenroth said the Queensland Government stood by Irwin's nomination as Australian of the Year, The Australian reported Monday.
"We still support his nomination but it is up to the Australia Day Council now to determine who is the Australian of the Year," a spokesman for Mackenroth told the newspaper.
