Life, death, taxes and Bindi Irwin
TERRI Irwin is adamant her father-in-law Bob's decision to walk away from Australia Zoo after the death of her husband, Steve, was simply his way of coping with his son's death, not because of any falling-out with the family.

A source close to Bob Irwin, who founded the world-famous zoo at Beerwah on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in the 1970s, said his disillusionment with its direction since Steve's death from a stingray attack was behind his decision to leave the zoo this year to develop a conservation property near Kingaroy.

But Ms Irwin said she believed Irwin Sr left Australia Zoo because it was his way of coping with his son's loss.

"I don't think Bob thinks poorly of what we're doing here," Ms Irwin told The Weekend Australian. "After losing Steve, Bob wanted to go and do his own thing. He came to me and I was happy to help him.

"He has been struggling to do something on his own to honour Steve. If what he's doing on his property is making him feel better, then that's terrific."

In her first public comments about Bob Irwin's withdrawal from the zoo, Ms Irwin revealed she was receiving psychological help to cope with the death of her husband two years ago, and defended what critics describe as the commercialisation of her 10-year-old daughter, Bindi.

The tax office is investigating Australia Zoo's involvement in a tax scheme set up by disgraced assistant commissioner Nick Petroulias, which channelled funds through a Singapore bank, HQZ Argenturn. Ms Irwin said her intention in becoming involved in the scheme was to set up a fund to protect zoo employees.

"If I had a serious wet season and people weren't coming to the gate, or something unforeseen happened like in New York, I thought it was nice to have a little money set aside as payroll protection," she said.

Ms Irwin said she had been "duped", and admitted she intended to minimise tax.

"It was a program that was a better option taxwise than paying 48 per cent tax," she said. "Otherwise, I would have had to set more money aside in order to have payroll protection."

Australia Zoo is booming commercially. Ms Irwin said its profits were "in the millions" but she did not know how many millions. However, it has been enough to help amass a portfolio of 27properties at a cost of $22 million since 2000, half of it acquired since Steve's death.

The properties were purchased through her companies, Silverback Properties and Rosette Properties. They include the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on Cape York, paid for by a $6million commonwealth grant.

Rosette's properties include two neighbouring waterfront homes at Minyama on the Sunshine Coast, which were bought for $4.5 million.

"We needed a marina berth for Steve's boat, so I thought we may as well get an investment property," Ms Irwin said.

"I don't live there. I live at the zoo. My house has three bedrooms and one bathroom. I don't live in the lap of luxury."

Most property purchases relate to zoo expansion plans. Ms Irwin said most of the zoo profits went towards wildlife conservation projects such as patrols to protect endangered tigers in Sumatra.

"I'm so lucky because I have this terrific legacy of Steve's to uphold," she said. "He set out a 10-year plan - I'm not even two years into it."

University of South Australia child development expert Freda Briggs said she was concerned at Bindi's involvement in public activities such as promoting Australia Zoo, starring in her own television show and launching her own clothing line.

"The worry is that she is being propelled into adulthood prematurely," Professor Briggs said. "Bindi may be enjoying it, but it's likely she's doing it primarily to please an adult."

Ms Irwin bristles at such suggestions. "Bindi is living her dream - she's having a great time," Ms Irwin said.

"For her ninth birthday, she sang with the Veronicas.

"Bindi's seen people begging in Thailand and she's done the red carpet in Los Angeles. She's been to 21 countries. She's learning, she's experiencing, she's doing what she wants, and I can help her. People need not worry."

She said she had recently turned down a seven-figure advertising deal featuring Bindi.

Ms Irwin said she saw a psychologist for counselling over her husband's death.

"You're nuts if you don't go to one when you need it - and when you lose someone is when you can really need it."