Malcolm Turnbull's Libs just smacked down Mike Baird's NSW Libs over their appeal to scrap the multibillion-dollar rort that is negative gearing.

Weak wage growth is creating yet another budget black hole, but politicians and corporate chiefs are still keen to use Donald Trump's victory to argue the case for sharply lower corporate taxes – sharply lower the the $50 billion gift that the current government is still keen to deliver.

"Now come on, I know you Aussies are competitive in cricket, in rugby – why not corporate tax rates?" asked Rio Tinto boss Jean-Sebastien Jacques citing loose talk from the US and UK that corporate rates could be slashed to as low as 15 per cent. 

"We know that the Trump administration will be bringing down tax cuts for companies, we know the May administration is prepared to go further when it comes to reducing the tax burden on businesses so they can support jobs and investment and they can support growth," our Treasurer Scott Morrison told Parliament last week.

"This government wants to do the same."

Here's another sobering fact to keep in mind while the politicians continue to waffle.

The Commonwealth Bank now lays claim to being our biggest taxpayer. That is not good news for Australia.

When the bank announced its record $9.45 billion profit in August, its chief executive, Ian Narev, claimed the title with a $3.5 billion tax bill.

And given the continuing heat on the banks, departing chairman David Turner thought it worth repeating to shareholders in Perth this month.

"Whether you like the way governments spend their money or not, we are the largest taxpayer in Australia," he told them, just before they delivered an embarrassing strike against its remuneration report.

The title used to belong to the company formerly known as the Big Australian, BHP Billiton.

But it has shrunk very quickly from the heady days of the resource boom.

In 2013, BHP's tax and royalty payments to Australian government coffers exceeded $US9.2 billion. Last year it was $US2.5 billion.

In 2012, Rio Tinto's payments reached a high water mark of around $US7.8 billion. For its most recent year, 2015, it was $US3.3 billion.

That is a $US10 billion hole in the space of a few years, most of it representing a fall of in company taxes paid.

According to the most recent budget papers that CBD could find, receipts from our corporate taxpayers was expected to fall again last year.

We don't need to guess who will pick up the tab if these corporate tax cuts are carried through. And the gold medal will go to the bosses at Rio, BHP, the Commonwealth Bank ... 

Red bull  

Some executives are just made for the big stage, and CBD gets the feeling that Red Rooster chief executive Chris Green is one of them.

Red Rooster is expected to provide the meat and potatoes for the promised float – or trade sale – of Quick Service Restaurant Holdings (QSRH), by private equity firm Archer Capital.

Green is definitely a fan of the "no such thing as bad publicity" theory, cheerfully admitting that many people know the chain by its nickname, Red Rooter.

"I would say it's still in the vernacular ... We have thought about using it in a marketing campaign at some stage, but probably shied away from it."

Definitely one to pull out for the IPO – if it goes ahead.

And he gave a strong hint of how Red Rooster will market the float to our fundies who have done very well from a diet of Blackmores vitamins and organic milk: "I would say it's healthy but naughty," Green said of Red Roosters' chook, peas and gravy special.

"If you look at my favourite, which is the roast chicken and chips, it's real, it's healthy but then you can have a bit of fun on the side."

Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au