#skye docherty

Dr Allen says it's "truly troubling" that Australian data suggests the stresses of juggling work, life and family are "too overwhelming" and that, even before COVID-19, adults weren't having the number of children they desired. Climate change, cost of living, insecure employment, inaccessible and unaffordable childcare, unattainable home ownership and harmful gender norms also contribute, she says. She argues more needs to be done and that these "structural issues must be addressed by governments and workplaces" if we are to see any positive change.

A low fertility rate isn't a problem "in its own right", Dr Allen says. However, combined with an aging population, it equates to "economic uncertainty", posing the question as to how Australia can remain economically strong with fewer people to contribute to "government coffers". The burden of that question weighs disproportionately on young people, who "could potentially see their standard of living continue to be lower than generations previously", she says. "Young people are really getting a raw deal," Dr Allen says. "The nation wants young people to be the economic lifeline ensuring the country's future but at the same time these pressures, added to existing generational inequalities, might mean that young generations won't accomplish the things we take for granted: secure housing, secure careers and family."

In Australia, where there's been a long-term downward trend in fertility rates, there was a record low fertility rate of 1.66 babies per woman in 2019. A federal government report into Australia's future fertility rate projects a drop to 1.59 in 2021. "To put it into context, for the population to remain stable without immigration, you need a fertility rate per adult woman over her child birthing years to be about 2.1. That accounts for the natural infertility in the population," Patrick Parkinson, family law specialist at the University of Queensland, says."So 1.66 doesn't sound like it's much lower than that but over 50 years, over 80 years or so, that leads to a catastrophic fall in the population."

"Australia's birth rate continues to be below what is considered necessary for the population to replace itself," Dr Allen explains. She argues that action is required to stem the trend. If we continue down this road, she says, "Australia's economic future is in trouble". Dr Allen says the decline in the average number of children per woman is a result of increased education and paid employment for women. Women are starting families later and consequently having fewer children, and more people are choosing to be child-free.