'A lot of transparency': Frydenberg defends $444m grant to small reef charity

Environment minister says unsolicited grant complied with guidelines, and questions about it are a distraction

The environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, has dismissed concerns about the Turnbull government's decision to hand an unsolicited grant of $444m to a small Great Barrier Reef not-for-profit without a tender process.

He has also rejected claims that the grant process lacked transparency, saying the process complied with governance guidelines on grants and the Australian Audit Office would be able to follow how the money was being spent.