John Barilaro thanked for $107,000 grant to agricultural group associated with Angus Taylor's family

Grant used to develop case to lobby federal government to weaken native grassland protection came as separate Taylor-family controlled company was facing investigations for illegal clearing

An agricultural group associated with Angus Taylor's family thanked the New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro, for a $107,000 grant that was used to fund research to support lobbying efforts for the watering down of protections for endangered native grasslands.

At the time, in late 2016, a separate Taylor family-controlled company, Jam Land, was under investigation for illegal clearing of native grasslands, in breach of the same grassland protections. It was facing potential fines of up to $1m.