Department acts to stop release of documents on probe into land-clearing by company linked to Angus Taylor

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is appealing against a decision ordering the release of documents on an investigation into Jam Land, a company linked to Angus Taylor. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has taken legal action to block Guardian Australia from accessing documents about an investigation into illegal land-clearing by Jam Land Pty Ltd in which the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, and his brother Richard had interests.

After a four-year battle with the department, which began in April 2018, the Australian information commissioner last month ordered the release of 11 documents.