Calls for a baby bonus as Queensland’s birth rate drops

When introducing the baby bonus scheme in 2002, then federal treasurer Peter Costello famously encouraged Australians to “have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country”.

“Even if there was just one for mum and dad because we’re not even hitting that [replacement rate],” Mr McCrindle said.

The fertility rate in 2019 was 1.66 births per Australian woman, while there have been predictions of 56,000 fewer babies every year from 2019 to 2024.

Mr McCrindle said it was likely the birth rate would drop even further in 2021 as people delayed having children because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Historically, in tough economic times – depressions, recessions and global instability like the world wars – the birth rate sharply drops…