As discussed in The Conversation, the RBA was made subservient for a reason.
As prime minister, Chifley had the principle enshrined in the Commonwealth Bank Act of 1945, and it was later enshrined in the Reserve Bank Act of 1959.
The ultimate supremacy of the government over the Reserve Bank board was hard won – by Labor – and it is easy to imagine circumstances in which a government might need to use it.
Even the knowledge that the trigger is there, never pulled, lets the board know it is not able to go completely rogue and act against the wishes of a democratically elected government.
Chalmers ought to consider the wisdom of keeping his ultimate power in reserve. One day, Chalmers or his successors might wish they had it. The current recommendation to remove it is just plain wrong!
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