Does Australia need migrants to grow the population?

SBS Nepali

Chief Executive Officer, The Parenthood, Georgie Dent (AAP) — Chief Executive Officer, The Parenthood, Georgie Dent Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI

Australia’s birth rate has fallen to a record low, as the nation faces an ageing population and growing pressure on government spending.

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Published 24 September 2026 2:45pm

By Haylena Krishnamoorthy

Presented by SBS Nepali

Source: SBS

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Australia’s birth rate has fallen to a record low, as the nation faces an ageing population and growing pressure on government spending.

The latest Intergenerational Report projects Australia’s population will continue to grow - but increasingly through migration, as fertility rates decline.

Now, family advocates are calling for greater investment in childcare and more support for parents, warning the cost of raising children is becoming a broader economic issue.

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