Risk: Steve Irwin and baby. Steve Irwin feeds a crocodile while holding baby Bob. Proud father keeps a secure grip on the infant in the Sunshine Coast display arena.

What's all the fuss? Steve Irwin and wife Terri.

Commentary

STEVE Irwin sparked outrage yesterday when he held his baby son a metre from the mouth of a crocodile at his Queensland zoo.

Child advocates branded the Crocodile Hunter reckless for holding one-month-old Bob while feeding the giant crocodile a dead chicken.

Wife Terri looked on as Irwin then "walked" Bob to the crocodile pool at his Sunshine Coast wildlife park as the 4m reptile, named Murray, lurked nearby.

Irwin defended the stunt, saying the baby was never in danger. "This kid has to grow up to be croc savvy," he told the Herald Sun. "I guess what I am doing is teaching him to be completely familiar with crocodiles... There's no way known I would ever endanger my child."

But Irwin -- recently named Queenslander of the year -- now faces possible investigation by Queensland police, the Department of Families, and workplace safety officers.

The stunt was slammed by child support groups and likened to the furore caused by pop star Michael Jackson when he dangled his newborn baby over a balcony at a hotel in Germany in 2002.

Childhood Foundation chief Joe Tucci described Irwin's actions as outrageous. "It's neglect, it's reckless, it's a form of endangerment," he said. "I don't think we should use children as props, and definitely not in situations that are going to put them in such danger."

Mr Tucci said Irwin could faces criminal charges if he continued to put his baby in harm's way. "He wasn't thinking about the risks to his child. Children need adults to protect them. They should not be involved in any kind of entertainment that puts them at risk,'' he said. "Kids under five are unpredictable. It's only one small slip away from a bad accident. He can make his own choices, but his child can't."

Australian Family Association spokesman Bill Muehlenberg said Irwin's conduct was tantamount to child abuse. Mr Muehlenberg said Irwin had no right to put his baby in peril. "Most parents would cringe at the sight of such things. One slip, one fall and he is the crocodile's lunch," he said.

Yesterday's show, for the public and the media, was billed as Bob's "croc-feeding debut". "Good boy, Bob," Irwin said as Murray's jaws snapped shut on the food. "He's one month old, so it's about time Bob got out there and did his first croc demo," Irwin told the excited crowd.

Irwin later told the Herald Sun: "If I had known it was going to cause a ruckus I would have thrown them (the media) out by their ears.

"I was in complete control of the crocodile. Robert was tucked right in my arm. It is far more dangerous to pack your kid up and go out on the road."

Irwin's wife Terri backed Bob's place in the show. "When I put him back in the pram he had big eyes and he was smiling and it was a wonderful sensory experience for him. He dug it," she said.

Queensland Families Minister Judy Spence said she would request the unedited video tapes of the incident. "I have seen the television footage and while I have no doubt the Irwins love their children very much, I believe it was an error of judgment to place a baby in a potentially dangerous situation," Ms Spence said. "The department is interested in examining all of the information including a copy of the unedited video and the safety precautions and protocols Mr Irwin was following."

Queensland Police confirmed last night they had received complaints from the public about the incident.

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