This is just a personal opinion from this academic that obviously hasn't put any research into it. For example his comment;
Quote:"We just don't need to increase the birthrate in Australia ... because there's no foreseeable chance of Australia's population actually falling," he said.
This is because it is propped up by immigration.
Also he said;
Quote:"Australia's on an increasing population path."
Increasing yes, but this is now because of the baby bonus as well as no reduction in immigration.
What type of argument is this?
Quote:He argues a baby bonus-fuelled population boom now would offer future economic benefits at a cost to current generations.
Where is his facts regarding costs to current future generations? Everything that the Howard government has done has been aimed at consolidating the future for this great country. What is being saved from unemployment decline is being invested into the future of Australia by way of baby bonus's and other important areas.
Yes, he does make a point that maybe it should be primarily for the second, third, etc. child but I believe the Stats supplied by freediver proves that their is an increase in baby's since the baby bonus conception. People who would have waited another few years before thinking about having a baby would have been prompted by the baby bonus. People who already had the national average of 2 children would have been prompted to have a third and etc.