Budget 2024: Jim Chalmers declares he wants couples to have more children ... trends now
View
comments
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared he wants Australian couples to have more kids - even during a cost of living crisis.
With Australia having a low fertility rate, the father-of-three said bigger families needed to be encouraged.
'We want to make it easier for people to have bigger families if they want to and that's why we're making these enormous investments in early childhood education,' he said on Friday.
But Dr Chalmers ruled out reviving the old baby bonus, which a decade ago gave $5,000 to a new mum having a child - or more than $8,000 in today's money.
'We've found a better way to support people who make that choice,' he said.
'I know that some people can't afford to have more kids, I know that people will make their own choices and I don't pretend for a moment that government should direct those choices.'
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared he wants Australian couples to have more kids even during a cost of living crisis (he is pictured, left, with wife Laura and their three children Jack, Leo and Annabel)
Dr Chalmers has hinted that instead of the baby bonus, his third Budget would look at making paid parental leave more generous, noting the work of Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth.
'It's why Katy and I work so closely together to make sure, with Amanda Rishworth, that we could expand paid parental leave and pay the superannuation guarantee,' he said.
Former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello introduced a $3,000 lump
