Assistant Treasurer Mark Arbib has taken aim at opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey about his stance over bank lending rates, saying it was more like an application for a bank job.
Mr Hockey has accused the government of sending out mixed messages over interest rates after complaining about the ANZ and Westpac independently increasing their standard variable mortgage rates.
"The fact is, whether we like it or not, we want our banks to be profitable and safe, just like we want our airlines to be profitable and safe," Mr Hockey told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
He said the the government just does not understand what is going on in the bank system, and does not have a consistent story on bank funding.
Senator Arbib said Mr Hockey has time and time again made excuses for the banks to raise interest rates.
"He's been out there giving the banks the green light, saying all they needed to do was better explain why they were putting up rates," the senator said in a brief note.
"His performance this morning would've been a great application for a job at one of the banks."
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