I found this via google:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23303522-5007132,00.html
BOB Irwin, father of Crocodile Hunter Steve, has snubbed his daughter-in-law Terri in a heartfelt resignation letter, saying he has quit Australia Zoo to "keep his son's dream alive".
Mr Irwin told of his "difficult decision" in leaving the conservation and tourism icon that he helped build over 36 years. This follows claims by zoo staff and volunteers of an ongoing feud with Terri over treatment of staff, management of Wildlife Warriors and the commercial direction of the world-famous attraction.
Mr Irwin provided his statement exclusively to the The Sunday Telegraph yesterday, angry that zoo management had refused to make it public on Friday and had instead sent out words "that were not his".
In the 300-word letter, he talks of his desire to continue "Steve's dream" at a new property near Kingaroy.
He thanks zoo staff, animal hospital workers, Wildlife Warriors and "all Steve's friends out there", but makes no reference to Terri or her contribution to his late son's conservation empire and the raising of his grandchildren Bindi and Bob.
Mr Irwin pays tribute to his son, who died after a stingray barb pierced his heart as he filmed a documentary off north Queensland in September 2006.
"You may rest assured that Judy (his partner) and I will continue with Steve's dream, with the passion and commitment he would expect," he writes.
"Steve's ultimate passion, even from a young boy, was always for the conservation of Australian wildlife and its habitat. When Judy and I move to our new property we intend to carry on with wildlife rehabilitation and conservation projects."
Terri, zoo director Wes Mannion and family manager John Stainton refused to comment on claims of a family rift.
The official statement from the zoo on Friday contains none of the words Mr Irwin wanted to convey.
It reads: "Bob is a gentleman of retirement age and we fully support and love him dearly. He has been through so much grief with the loss of his first wife Lyn and only son. These rumours (of a rift) need to end in respect to the Irwin family."
Mr Irwin said he had stepped down from his role as manager of the Ironbark Station wildlife sanctuary and koala research centre, near Crows Nest west of Brisbane, as well as his duties at Australia Zoo.
"In late 1999, Steve and I discussed important projects that were to take place at Ironbark Station. These projects have been completed with the wonderful assistance from staff and our 'wildlife caring' friends," he said.
Rumours of an Irwin family feud have been circulating since January and volunteers and a disgruntled employee recently claimed staff were upset that Bob had been banned from the zoo after an argument with Terri.
The attraction is very much a family business, with Bob's son-in-law Frank Muscillo the zoo manager.
Meanwhile Terri Irwin and Australia Zoo could face a tax probe in the wake of multi-million dollar civil lawsuits against them.
Australian Taxation Office officials were spotted sitting in on preliminary hearings at the Victorian County Court last week.
Documents before the court allege Terri Irwin's accountant advised her to enter into a transaction involving an offshore bank.
Terri and the Australia Zoo are being sued for $2.5 million by debt collection agency Alyssa Treasury Services Ltd.
Terri has denied being knowingly involved in any illegitimate activity.
She maintains she knows nothing about the matters which prompted the civil lawsuit.
Her lawyers argued in Victoria's County Court the highly complex case should be moved to Queensland.
Judge Kennedy has reserved her decision until Friday.
The apparent row between Bob and Terri Irwin made headlines in Queensland after Mr Irwin disputed a press release from Australia Zoo and an anonymous staff member told the local newspaper tension at the tourist attraction had reached boiling point.
The staffer said the falling out between Bob and Terri came after Mr Irwin spoke to his daughter-in-law "a few weeks ago'' about the treatment of staff, the management of Wildlife Warriors and "animal-welfare issues''.
"The zoo is a real boiling pot,'' the woman said. "Staff are very upset about what's happened to Bob ... but he doesn't want to talk to the media.''
The feud was first talked about in a women's magazine, which claimed that Mr Irwin had been banned from the zoo. New Idea also claimed Mr Irwin was facing a battle to remain in the home he was living in at the wildlife reserve at Blackbutt.
However, Mr Irwin initially said that story was "made up'' before agreeing to release a statement on the matter - but only after it had been approved by Australia Zoo general manager Frank Muscillo.
Mr Muscillo is married to Joy, one of Mr Irwin's two daughters and a sister of the late "Crocodile Hunter'', Steve Irwin.
The matter then became complicated when the statement that was issued was, according to Mr Irwin, not the one he wrote.
"I wrote 1.5 pages and spent a lot of time on it,'' he said.
"I made it clear there were to be no alterations. I wanted to say it how it was.''
The statement from the zoo simply read: "Bob is a gentleman of retirement age and we fully support and love him dearly. He has been through so much grief with the loss of his first wife Lyn and only son. These rumours need to end in respect to (sic) the Irwin family.''
Mr Irwin said: "No, that's not my statement,'' adding tongue-in-cheek: "Everyone knows I'm not a gentleman. I didn't know anything about it (the other statement), but that's par for the course.''
Mr Irwin said the statement he wanted released "sort of puts the matter to rest, but not (exactly) puts it to bed''. Mr Irwin said he did not want to reveal what was in his original release.
"I'd like to get it sorted,'' he said.
The anonymous caller, who feared for her job, said that Mr Irwin was respected by zoo staff.
"He's a humble person,'' she said. "He's probably hoping it will go away but he's not happy with what's going on watching employee after employee leave.''
Mr Muscillo said in response that the zoo employed 550 people and there would always be some on the staff with axes to grind
