When you’re finishing up a job, you might think about cake, a card and slacking off for a bit… Reserve Bank Governor Phillip Lowe doesn’t have that luxury – he’ll be answering some tough questions from our federal pollies today about – you guessed it – interest rates… Lowe has to face a bunch of parliamentary committees this year – and things can get a bit testy like last time when he was accused of trying to “smash Australia into a recession”. A few issues are expected to be raised by MPs for Lowe’s final appearance today: the lagged impact of rate rises, the pressure on the housing market, and the global economic headwinds facing Australia. Lowe’s due to finish in mid-September after 7 years in the top job – he’ll be replaced by Deputy Governor Michele Bullock.