ANZ Bank chief executive Mike Smith has shown little concern about the potential for the Reserve Bank of Australia to rein in home lending, while warning that buyers need to be careful of the assumption house prices always move higher, The Australian Financial Review reports.
Mr Smith said “you could understand why [the RBA] is looking at all options” given the traditional lever to slow down the housing market, higher interest rates, could further stall an unsteady economy.
“I think we should be supporting the Reserve Bank in what it is trying to do,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
“It is a tough job and maintaining balance is extremely difficult.
“People just have to get it out of their minds that property always goes up.”
Yesterday, Reserve Bank assistant governor (financial system) Malcolm Edey and head of financial stability Luci Ellis fronted the Senate economics committee inquiry into housing affordability.