Figures from The Parenthood, reported by The Age, put annual child-raising costs in Australia at about $17,800 for one child and more than $36,500 for two. The group's CEO Georgie Dent says affordability is a significant factor in the country's falling birth rate.
Australia’s fertility rate fell from 2.02 in 2008 to 1.48 in 2024; the intergenerational report projects it will decline further to 1.34 by 2065–66. A rate of 2.1 is generally needed for a population to replace itself without migration. Men report wanting two children on average and women 2.1; Treasury estimated a further 881,000 births might have occurred from 2001 to 2022 if intended family sizes had been achieved.
ConnellGriffin found family costs outpaced household incomes; Dent said costs rose 134% over two decades, compared with 102% for money reaching the bank each week. The Parenthood found 86% of parents in regional, rural and remote areas were experiencing financial stress tied to childcare access. Dent calls for minimum paid parental leave to reach the OECD’s one-year average, universally affordable and accessible childcare, and a national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission. She also proposes funding childcare like schools. She said 12.5% of centre-based services had average fees above the fee cap in 2020, compared with about 43% today.
