The government has defended Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe’s decision to give a private briefing to a group of bankers on interest rate hikes before making public statements.
Lowe will be questioned about the hikes to the cash rate at a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday as pressure mounts regarding his future in the top job at the Reserve Bank.
The RBA head gave a closed-door briefing to major banks last week, and cabinet minister Bill Shorten said there wasn’t anything wrong with that.
“I don’t think there’s anything untoward from a banker talking to bankers. Journalists talk to journalists in parliament … so I don’t see anything untoward,” Shorten told ABC Radio on Monday….