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The Reserve Bank governor says mortgage holders and renters are hurting deeply from the rising cost of living and higher interest rates.

Speaking at a Senate estimates hearing, Philip Lowe said people were writing to him about their distressing personal circumstances.

"I read those letters and hear those stories with a very heavy heart," he said.

"Personally I find it disturbing."

But he said higher interest rates were necessary to rein in inflation.

"If we don't get on top of inflation it means even higher interest rates and more unemployment," he said.

There are mounting criticisms about the central bank's interest rate predictions and how they have been communicated.

Bernie Fraser, who led the RBA for seven years before his tenure ended in 1996, said it would be better if the central bank flagged the possibility of further rises while it watched the impact of existing interest rate hikes, rather than giving firm predictions.

"The market has sort of jumped on and interpreted this as the likelihood or near-certainty of another three or four increases to interest rates," he told ABC Radio.

"That's unhelpful and doesn't provide the kind of confidence that the bank should be striving to enlist with the community."

Dr Lowe again dismissed calls for his resignation based on poorly communicated forecasts during the pandemic.

"It's an important job that comes with public accountability as part of the process but I intend to serve out that term," he said.

The governor did not mention his possible reappointment, however, with the treasurer due to make a decision about a second term later in the year.

Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy, who has a seat on the RBA board, said criticism of interest rate decisions should be applied to all board members.

"The criticisms or otherwise of the interest rate decisions apply to the whole board, not just the governor because it's the board that makes the decisions," he told the parliamentary committee in Canberra.

But the governor did admit to providing too much communication about interest rates and other matters.

Responding to criticism of a private interest rate briefing he gave a group of bankers, Dr Lowe said he was revising his timetable of public speaking arrangements based on feedback he was "maybe talking too much".

"It is possible to talk too much. I have been conscious of that," he said.

Dr Lowe denied the bank was under pressure from the treasurer or other ministers to stop increasing the cash rate.

"It's noisy but raising interest rates is always unpopular and it affects the whole community and the representatives of the community understandably will sometimes want to talk about that," he said.

"But we keep doing our job and our job is to make sure inflation comes down and hopefully preserve the gains in unemployment that we have made."

NAB economist Tapas Strickland said the governor stuck with the same hawkish messaging observed after the February cash rate decision.

"Governor Lowe's comments and tone today suggests he is more worried about inflation risks than activity risks," Mr Strickland said.

He said the rhetoric supported the market's expectation of three more interest rate hikes, taking the cash rate to 4.1 per cent by May.

© AAP 2023

Almost 80 people living in Queensland's Western Downs region are being urged to prepare to leave their homes as firefighters battle a major bushfire in the region.

Warnings have been stepped up for residents of Kowguran and Myall Park, about 300km northwest of Brisbane, on Wednesday afternoon.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has alerted about 80 locals to "prepare to leave" as it battles a "fast-moving" blaze burning across more than 27,000 hectares.

"Conditions could get worse quickly," QFES said in an alert on Wednesday afternoon.

"Firefighters are working to contain the fire however you should not expect a firefighter at your door. Firefighting aircraft may assist ground crews."

Locals in nearby Hookswood and Guluguba are also urged to monitor conditions, refer to their bushfire survival plans and be prepared to leave if the situation changes.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the fire danger for the region remained high with temperatures reaching 34.3C in Miles on Wednesday.

The alert comes after warnings were downgraded for two other fires burning to the south and east of the Miles blaze.

About 120 locals in Fairyland and Burra Burri, near Jandowae, have been urged to stay informed about a large bushfire by monitoring social media or local radio.

A second is affecting parts of Montrose and Wieambilla, near Tara.

Residents who had left the area were advised they could return but to be aware of unstable buildings and hot embers.

The Tara fire is also believed to have impacted at least 20 structures, including homes and sheds.

No fatalities or significant injuries have been reported.

Queensland Emergency Service Minister Mark Ryan said the fires had been challenging to contain in the hot, dry and windy conditions.

"Hours of water-bombing operations and hundreds of Fire and Rescue Service and Rural Fire Service personnel continue to make a heroic effort to bring these fires finally under control," he said.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said Western Downs communities could access personal hardship assistance jointly funded with the state government.

Senator Watt said the funding could help cover the cost of essential items for people and families.

"I recognise that this is an extremely stressful time for evacuated residents currently in temporary accommodation," he said.

© AAP 2023

Rural fire service strike teams have been deployed on Queensland's Western Downs to help ground crews trying to contain a major blaze.

Almost 80 people living in the vicinity were being urged on Wednesday to ready themselves to leave their homes as firefighters worked on the bushfire, which has been burning for several days.

Watch and act warnings were in place for residents of Kowguran and Myall Park, about 300km northwest of Brisbane.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service alerted the locals to prepare to leave as it battled a fast-moving blaze burning across more than 27,000 hectares.

"Conditions could get worse quickly," it said.

People in nearby Hookswood and Guluguba were also advised to monitor conditions, refer to bushfire survival plans and be ready to evacuate if the situation changed.

The Bureau of Meteorology said fire danger for the region remained high with temperatures reaching 34.3C in Miles on Wednesday.

The alert came after warnings were downgraded for two other fires south and east of the Miles blaze.

About 120 residents in Fairyland and Burra Burri, near Jandowae, have been encouraged to monitor social media and local radio to stay informed about a large fire.

Another blaze at nearby Montrose and Wieambilla, near Tara, was extinguished on Wednesday afternoon, QFES said.

Residents who had left the area were advised they could return but to be aware of unstable buildings and hot embers.

The Tara fire is also believed to have impacted at least 20 structures, including homes and sheds.

No fatalities or significant injuries have been reported.

Queensland Emergency Service Minister Mark Ryan said the fires had been challenging to contain in the hot, dry winds.

"Hours of water-bombing operations and hundreds of Fire and Rescue Service and Rural Fire Service personnel continue to make a heroic effort to bring these fires finally under control," he said.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said Western Downs communities could access jointly funded personal hardship assistance.

Senator Watt said the money could help cover the cost of essential items for people and families.

"I recognise this is an extremely stressful time for evacuated residents currently in temporary accommodation," he said.

© AAP 2023