Idolising Children?

Once again, childcare and supporting “working families” is dominanting pre-budget discussions.

There is good reason for it and to face the reality that Costello is definitely pursuing pro-natalist policies because he sees the impact our declining birth rate will have on economic growth.

That said, I’m interested in how much longer “family-friendly” budgets can last in a society where the traditonal nuclear family is on the decline.

The Australian Insititute of Family Studies has produced some great material that should have us thinking more about this. Firstly, their 2004 report on fertility-decision making which indicates that despite our desire to have more children, it is unlikely that young Australian’s will have the number of children that they say they want.

Secondly, is this graph based on ABS data on Projected Family Types.

This graph clearly shows the rise of couple-only families. A combination of fewer couples having children and more significantly baby boomers heading into older age with no dependants. What it shows is that in 2016 couple-only households will pass couple with children households as the most common type of household. What impact will this have on family-friendly budgets? Will Costello’s pro-natalist, populate or perish approach still stand when the more people live in households without children?

I’m not sure. But, there is the possibility that in 4 elections time the landscape of family-friendly politics will have changed dramatically and that couple-only households will begin to dictate fron-page policy debates and budget decisions.