ASX, which is selling itself to Singapore Exchange, said a study it commissioned by Access Economics concludes the deal is in Australia’s interest.

The report “concludes that the formation of ASX-SGX would promote Australia’s national interest since it is highly likely to raise the economic welfare of Australians,” ASX said in an e-mailed statement. It would help the nation become an Asian financial hub, allow Australians to diversify their savings, and lower local companies’ capital costs, according to ASX.

ASX has hired a former adviser to Tony Abbott, Australia’s parliamentary opposition leader, to lobby lawmakers in support of its takeover by SGX, three people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg News last month. Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has cited national-interest concerns over the agreement, while other lawmakers have said they’re opposed to the proposed merger of Asia’s fifth- and eighth-largest bourses.

SGX, part owned by the city-state’s government, requires the support of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s minority Labor government and at least four other legislators in parliament’s lower house to approve the cash-and-shares deal.