Does Australia need another baby bonus as it faces a birth rate struggle?
News Source
β’Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:32:06 +0000
π° What Happened
Experts say Australia must choose between more migration and more babies to support an ageing population. They were reacting to the government's latest Intergenerational Report.
The report says people will live longer and have fewer children. The fertility rate is expected to fall to about 1.34 children per woman by the mid-2060s.
Independent MP Bob Katter suggested a $75,000 payment per child to reverse the decline. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Nationals leader Matt Canavan said family policy needs to be more than just cash.
π The Backstory
Dr Pelin Akyol from the e61 Institute said Australia will have many elderly people and fewer workers to support them. She called that a big budget problem for the country.
Demographer Peter McDonald says the official figures are distorted. Temporary migrants and international students are counted as possible mothers but have very few babies, which pushes the rate down.
The birth rate for women born in Australia is about 1.64, while the headline rate is 1.48. Both are below the replacement rate of 2.1, so the population would shrink without migration.
π― Why It Matters
Migration is the fastest way to fill jobs in aged care and health. But it is politically difficult, so the debate over babies and migration matters for everyone.
Experts say Australia must choose between more migration and more babies to support an ageing population. They were reacting to the government's latest Intergenerational Report.
The report says people will live longer and have fewer children. The fertility rate is expected to fall to about 1.34 children per woman by the mid-2060s.
Independent MP Bob Katter suggested a $75,000 payment per child to reverse the decline. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Nationals leader Matt Canavan said family policy needs to be more than just cash.
Dr Pelin Akyol from the e61 Institute said Australia will have many elderly people and fewer workers to support them. She called that a big budget problem for the country.
Demographer Peter McDonald says the official figures are distorted. Temporary migrants and international students are counted as possible mothers but have very few babies, which pushes the rate down.
The birth rate for women born in Australia is about 1.64, while the headline rate is 1.48. Both are below the replacement rate of 2.1, so the population would shrink without migration.
Migration is the fastest way to fill jobs in aged care and health. But it is politically difficult, so the debate over babies and migration matters for everyone.