Mathias Cormann says tax cut for big business becoming more urgent

Finance minister counters speculation the prime minister floated personal tax cuts as a prelude to dumping company tax promise

The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, says a tax cut for big business has become more urgent, countering internal speculation that the prime minister floated personal tax cuts as a prelude to dumping the company tax promise.

Cormann used a speech to the Business Council of Australia on Thursday night to try and switch the focus back on the government's economic agenda after another day of contention about cabinet leaks and a persistent insurgency from Nationals over a commission of inquiry into the banks.