Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor has defended himself against Opposition attacks over his conduct, as key crossbenchers reject a proposed inquiry into the matter as a "witch hunt".
Labor has been pursuing Mr Taylor over a meeting he held with the Department of Environment in 2017 to discuss the listing of endangered native grasslands.
It has also questioned whether he properly declared his indirect interest in a company, through a family company, that was the subject of a land-clearing investigation.
The Minister told Parliament all of his interests had been declared in accordance with the rules.
"This is a legal partnership set up with my three brothers and a business associate over 20 years ago to farm across this region, close to where I stand now, via leased, managed and owned farms," Mr Taylor told Parliament.
"This farming partnership — a common legal structure for rural holdings — has in recent years held a one-third interest in a farm near Delegate in south-eastern NSW.
"If the Register of Interests were required to record minority, non-controlling interests held at three levels down in a family company structure, this would be a major change to the current practice."
Mr Taylor said he sought a briefing on the revised environmental listing of the natural temperate grasslands after "serious" concerns were raised by farmers in his electorate and across the region.
"The revised listing requires farmers to assess whether there is 50 per cent native vegetation down to parcels of one-tenth of a hectare, at highly unfavourable times of year, because clover — an introduced species — must be excluded from the assessment," he said.
"It goes well beyond NSW regulations, and is costly and unmanageable, as it is difficult or impossible to be sure that routine pasture improvement or weed management is compliant."
Mr Taylor said he made it clear that the briefing would not include any discussion of the land-clearing investigation.
"At no time during this meeting, was any compliance matter, or any personal interest of mine, discussed," he said.
"Officials in attendance were determined by the department."
Senate inquiry push into Minister fails
Labor led the push for an inquiry into Mr Taylor's conduct, with its environment spokeswoman Terri Butler urging senators to back it.
"We hope all crossbenchers will support the Senate inquiry, we think it's an important issue of trust in decision making," she said.
But while Centre Alliance declared it would support the motion, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson' and independent Cory Bernardi's decisions to vote against it meant it failed to get up.
"I've looked at the paperwork with this and I think it's a witch hunt against Angus Taylor," Senator Hanson told Channel Nine.
The Senate voted 33 to 32 to reject Labor's push for a Senate inquiry.
