[Island caretaker Ben Southall can have jacuzzis at Hamilton Island resort every day, but says he will miss his roast dinners. PHOTO: AFP]

Sydney - Australian tourism officials have defended its Best Job In The World competition winner after the Briton was branded a 'whingeing Pom' by the media.

Tourism Queensland said it had every confidence in Ben Southall after he admitted he would miss England's long summer days and traditional roast dinners during his caretaker stint on idyllic Hamilton Island.

A spokesman said: "Ben was asked by a British journalist what he would miss... only to find himself tagged by the British tabloid media as a 'whinger'.

"Tourism Queensland has every confidence that Ben is the best person for the best job. He's adventurous, outgoing and a genuine person who is able to communicate well."

Southall beat thousands of applicants to the six-month post, which will earn him US$105,000 (S$153,000) for swimming, snorkelling and sailing around the north-eastern tourist paradise and blogging about his experiences.

"I'll miss the long days we have. The island may boast a tropical climate but it gets dark at 8pm," he told The Sun newspaper, in comments picked up by the Australian media.

"It will be far too hot to cook anything like roast dinners," he added. -AFP