Did you know Australia is experiencing 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While government policies are based on outdated population growth projections, existing services are struggling to cope with the unexpected increase in births.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/...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/A...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0...

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.

Answer 1

good

Answer 2

at my work 8 of us had babies due within 4 months of each other, plus my sister and 2 of her friends too.

Answer 3

no i didn't know that, but that should be suprising or something thanks for sharing though

Answer 4

It's obvious..they are having more fun that we are in Cedar Creek Texas!

Answer 5

I have to say it would take a h**l of a lot more for the Government to bribe me to contribute to the increase in population ... infact I don't think anything would tempt me ..

One was fine for me thanks.. and that was when the baby bonus was only about $900 nearly sixteen years ago ... what so many people don't take into account is how $5,000 really doesn't contribute to the life time of child rearing  a great deal.

Answer 6

I didn't know that.

Answer 7

Maybe it is due to Johnny Howard's speeches to school girls to keep on populating our country. Wasn't that a freak out?

Answer 8

huh.

Answer 9

Do they have social security in Australia? If so, they're screwed...like America is about to be soon.

Answer 10

Well zucchinis, I didn't know this and must admit I feel a *little* like Sam Brown on this ~ I wish I could have a kid for $5,000. Of course, it's what to do with them AFTERWARDS that's the problem, lol.

One reason (maybe) is that a lot of LGBT couples are having kids now? Friends of mine have two and they are part of an ever growing Rainbow babies Club.

It started out with four or five kids six years ago, and now they have about 40 kids, plus parents, as members. And that is just in one suburb (NOT Newtown or Paddington, either, lol).

I'm sure those statistics are boosting the overall total :-)

Whatever the reason, I'm sure the baby bonus is making it possible for people to have a little more security and a few material benefits when their children are born, and most people seem to use it very wisely.

As far as taxes go, I'm happier spending it on that than battleships.

Cheers :-)

Answer 11

Must be something in the water over there...lol :)  

Well, if that's the case the gov't better provide some funding to support these new babies that are on the way.

Answer 12

great. and it's possibly from the baby bonus too. people are having babies so they can get the bonus, then dumping their babies with someone else so they can go support their crack habit.

Answer 13

I didn't actually know that.

I reckon it's because many British citizens have finally woken from their rest from sanity, realised it rains way to frickin much here we get taxed the h**l out of us & it's time to go somewhere sunnier where you can actually afford a car....

naturally they've fallen in love with a Melbournian surfer &are makin sweet baby passion on a daily basis.

:-) bliss.

Answer 14

That is very interesting.  Is there some special circumstance that has brought about this boom?

Maggie

Answer 15

Yes I did know this, they introduced the $5000 baby bonus to encourage people to have babies. I wonder if they will stop this now?

Answer 16

No, I did not know that.

Why is that? Because Steve Irwin died?

Answer 17

do i care?

Answer 18

No... no, I must admit I didn't know.

Answer 19

If I could have a baby I would .. $5000 to reproduce. My taxes are being spent so effin well