Great Barrier Reef inquiry: officials refuse to answer questions over $444m grant

Departmental officials repeatedly claim cabinet and budget confidentiality when asked about the grant process

Australia's environment department head has told an inquiry it is wrong to assume that no due diligence was undertaken before a record $444m grant was offered to a private foundation for Great Barrier Reef projects.

But the chair of a Senate inquiry examining the controversial grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation says he is "convinced now that there has been no long-term work into this proposal".