Josh Frydenberg's office asked if environmental rule changes could be kept secret

Exclusive: Frydenberg's office canvassed whether he had power to weaken grasslands protections after Angus Taylor raised the issue, which was affecting a company he part-owns

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The office of the former environment minister Josh Frydenberg canvassed whether he had the power to water down federal protections for critically endangered grasslands and if it could be kept secret, following lobbying from a fellow minister, Angus Taylor.

Taylor and his brother have substantial rural interests on the Monaro plains, where the grasslands are prevalent.