Senator CORMANN ( Western Australia — Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Finance, Special Minister of State and Vice-President of the Executive Council ) ( 14:19 ): I get asked a question about a front group—is that what she said? I'm just trying to remember who was on the founding board of GetUp!. Who made the founding capital donation towards GetUp!? Oh, I think that may have been Bill Shorten. Oops! I can honestly say that I have never heard of that supposed BCA front group; I've got no idea what you're talking about. What I can say is that I've read a press release from the Business Council of Australia, issued today, where they have expressed disappointment that the reduction of our corporate tax rate to 25 per cent could not be legislated today— The PRESIDENT: Order. Senator Collins, on a point of order? Senator Jacinta Collins: Yes, on relevance. The question in this one is when did the minister, or his office, first become aware? He said on the face of it he's not aware. We would ask him to take it on notice. We've asked him about his office, and he's not taking it on notice. The PRESIDENT: Senator Collins, please resume your seat. Senators know I cannot instruct a minister on how to answer a question as long as he's being directly relevant. The question did have a substantial preamble. I believe that at the moment he's being directly relevant to the question. Senator CORMANN: I can reassure the honourable senator I will take on notice whether my office—I certainly haven't heard of a BCA front group, but I will consult my office. This is what the BCA said today: Ultimately, we need the Parliament to adopt the common-sense and fiscally responsible policy to gradually reduce the company tax rate by five percentage points over a decade. Every day we delay this we are handing opportunities to other countries—who are cutting their taxes—to get ahead, attract investment and create jobs. We need to put Australian workers first by ensuring Australia has a competitive company tax rate that allows all businesses—small, medium and large—to invest, expand, create jobs and deliver higher— wages. I couldn't have put it better myself! I commend this press release by the Business Council to the honourable senator from New South Wales—an equally great state. Senator Keneally, I encourage you to read it very carefully. Indeed, I encourage my friends on the crossbench to have a very good look— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann. Senator Keneally, on a point of order? Senator Keneally: Direct relevance. The minister has used up half his time and he hasn't even touched on the second half of my question, which was: does the minister support the BCA's decision to use a front group to run a phoney grass roots campaign? The PRESIDENT: Senator Keneally, it was a long question. As long as the minister is directly relevant to part of it, he is being directly relevant. Senator CORMANN: I'm not aware of a front group, and I don't accept the premise of your question just because of your say-so. I would encourage all of my friends on the Senate crossbench to read very carefully the statement the Business Council put out today. It goes to our national interest; it goes to the interest of working families across Australia. The PRESIDENT: Senator Keneally, a supplementary question.