The Reserve Bank is doubling down on defending its interest rate U-turns, with deputy governor Andrew Hauser saying it is easy to criticise its choices “in hindsight”.
The central bank heavyweight appeared at the Australia’s Economic Outlook Summit last Friday to be quizzed on the RBA’s decision making, its relationship with the government, and the country’s ongoing battles with high inflation and low productivity.
It comes amid criticism levied at the bank for cutting the cash rate three times in 2025 before hiking it three times in the first half of this year.
Interest rate changes – the most volatile in RBA decision making since the Global Financial Crisis – have taken a notable toll on the property market with homeowners navigating continued uncertainty around market conditions and mortgage repayments.
Mr Hauser was questioned on whether Australians would have been served better in 2025 and 2026 if interest rates had instead been held steady.
“We had very slow growth coming into the year and inflation was moving down fairly consistently into the target band,” Mr Hauser said.
RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser says it's easy to make calls on interest rates with hindsight. Picture: Supplied
“As inflation began to pick up again, and it was clear it did during the second half of the year, markets began to move ahead of us actually and expected us to tighten rates, and we did so.”
While Australians have faced had six changes to the cash rate in less than 18 months, comparable nations including Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom have seen more stability.
Despite more rate cuts overseas, Mr Hauser said other central banks would prefer Australia’s economic climate.
“We have to take very seriously, the fact that every decision we make affects every person in the country,” he said.“I talk to central bankers in other countries, and they would kill for our problems, to be absolutely honest.”
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