Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate requires the Economics Legislation Committee to invite the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Dr Phillip Lowe, to attend the committee's 2022-23 Budget estimates hearings on Wednesday, 9 November 2022 at 9 am to give two hours of evidence.

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will support this motion but notes that the Senate Economics Committee has already provided an invitation for Governor Lowe to attend Senate estimates. It would have been more desirable to allow the committee to go through the usual process for inviting witnesses to appear before it, but we will work constructively with other senators on this committee and, of course, with the RBA governor to arrive at the appropriate arrangements ahead of the hearing. While we are willing to work constructively with senators on this occasion, I would like to place on the record that the government does not support a new precedent where the Senate as a whole negotiates witness lists for respective committee hearings, as we believe that should remain a role for individual committees to establish.

Question agreed to.