Australians: Did you know we're in the midst of a new "baby boom"?

Question

Before 2001 the birth rate was steadily falling, but after that date the decrease in births turned around. Since then the birth rate has risen sharply, especially in Melbourne.

While government policies are based on outdated population growth projections, existing services are struggling to cope with the unexpected increase in births.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyTopic/C6AB1B7936E6703ECA257209001C678A?OpenDocument

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Australias-birth-rate-highest-in-36-yrs/2007/06/05/1180809489470.html

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20713357-2862,00.html

According to ABC Radio National, there were plans to abolish the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne altogether! Now it is overstretched, and the new hospital to be opened this year will not have any extra capacity for women giving birth.

Do you have any anecdotes about this issue generally?

Answer 1

Don't start me about the baby bonus - I'm constantly amazed at the number of young girls having babies and buying plasma TV's with their bonuses - where was the bonus when I was having babies?  Hmm?  Now they're going to 'help' the bad parents who are wasting their bonuses, and encourage them to spend the money on their offspring as intended.  Good heavens.

People would wait to afford babies 20 years ago, now they don't have to.  The Govt has gone about it the wrong way.  How about helping with child care and education?  That's where the real costs come in, not when you have a newborn.

No I don't have any anecdotes - I just sit back and watch in awe at the Govt making mistakes and the single teenage mums pushing prams around my suburb.

Answer 2

yes if you give people $5,000 just for getting pregnant they will breed.

Answer 3

Well, at this rate perhaps we really will see the baby bonus replaced with a baby tax, as advocated by Professor Walters who got slammed for writing about it recently in a medical journal. The medical journal tried to save face by saying his article was in jest... but it wasn't. With such limited resources, population control measures are quite likely to be seen in our lifetimes (like the one child policy in China).

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,228...

Answer 4

excuse me i am a younge mother i am 19 and i didnt waste my baby bonus and plus now if your under the age of 18 you get it in very small weekly payment cause you dont have a choice sorry this had nothing to do with ur question im sick of ppl judging young parents!!!!

ps own town has one of the highs birh rates in australia