The chief economist of the Department of Finance said he has seen economists being ordered to change their forecasts, for political reasons.

John McCarthy is giving evidence at the Banking Inquiry this morning, where he said it is important that people making political decisions on the economy can hear views from all sides.

However, he said in his time in the Department, he has seen staff being told to change their reports for political reasons.

"In my time in the department, there were instructions given to people: 'take this out, they can't say that, this is too political, get them to not say that," he said.

"My own view is that independent thought, be it form the IMF or the ESRI, is actually good."