text: A fiery stoush has erupted between the chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's media empire in Australia and a senator who questioned why the company runs a national newspaper at a multi-million dollar loss. During a tumultuous day of proceedings at a corporate tax inquiry in Sydney today, News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke was peppered with questions from Greens senator and party leader Christine Milne about why The Australian newspaper operates as a business when it is not profitable. When Mr Clarke defended the newspaper as the 'finest national newspaper operating in Australia', Ms Milne flatly told the inquiry, 'you and I won't agree on that'. 'You're a minority,' Mr Clarke fired back. 'Not from the number of people who buy your newspaper,' Ms Milne responded. Scroll down for video . A fiery stoush erupted News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke and a senator who questioned why the company runs a national newspaper at a multi-million dollar loss . Clarke was peppered with questions from Greens senator Christine Milne about why The Australian newspaper continued to when it is not profitable . As Christine Milne made her opinion about The Australian newspaper clear, News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke fired back: 'You're a minority' 'Not according to sales,' Greens Senator Christine Milne responded . 'I'm sorry?' Mr Clarke asked. 'How many do we sell a day? 'You sell a very small number,' Ms Milne responded. Mr Clarke also rejected allegations recently published by Fairfax Media alleging $4.5 billion had been siphoned from Mr Murdoch's Australian operations to the United States virtually tax free. He told the hearing the report was 'hopelessly wrong', arguing the stories were 'either deliberately misleading or no idea; looking at the author (business correspondent Michael West), I would say both'. In her questioning, Ms Milne also alleged The Australian was run for ideological purposes. Mr Clarke, who argued the paper examined policy, accepted her contention. It has been previously reported that the national broadsheet lost $30 million in the 2012/13 financial year. The paper was reportedly hoping to half that loss in the 2013/14 financial year. Also at Wednesday's hearing, the inquiry panel heard that the Australian arms of technology giants Google, Apple and Microsoft are being audited by the Australian Tax Office. Google Australia's managing director Maile Carnegie (centre), Microsoft's Bill Semple and Apple Australia Vice President Tony King are pictured fronting today's inquiry . Google Australia's managing director Maile Carnegie (left), Apple Australia Vice President Tony King  and Microsoft's Bill Semple appear at the inquiry . Committee chair Sam Dastyari is pictured listening on as the three tech giants argued their case before the inquiry . Executives from the three major companies confirmed that they were being investigated. Google Australia managing director Maile Carnegie said the company made $58 million in revenue in 2013, and profits of just more than $46 million, but paid $7.1 million in tax. Earlier, Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan continued to refuse to reveal the identities of a number of companies suspected of avoiding tax by shifting billions of dollars offshore. Committee chairman Sam Dastyari had written to Mr Jordan on Tuesday requesting he reveal the names. But Mr Jordan refused, and in a response sent to Senator Dastyari and tabled at the hearing on Wednesday, defended the decision on the grounds that naming the companies would undermine public confidence in the tax system. 'The Treasurer has been consulted about making these PII (public interest immunity) claims, and has endorsed them being made by me as an independent statutory office holder. The grounds of the PII claim are as follows,' the letter said. 'Disclosure of the information will have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient operations of the ATO, contrary to the public interest.'
target: News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke gave evidence at a corporate tax inquiry today .
  Mr Clarke engaged in a fiery sparring match with Greens leader Christine Milne .
  Ms Milne expressed a dim view of The Australian newspaper, which is published by News Corp Australia .
  'You're a minority,' Mr Clarke argued .
  'Not according to sales,' Ms Milne responded .
  Executives from Google, Microsoft and Apple also appeared at the hearing in Sydney .