Good old Peter Costello, still wanting women to have babies, and rejecting the idea that immigration will save us from the population birth dearth. Still, as shown by things like 64 percent of student debt being held by women, it is clear what women are doing under the new regime, anything but having babies. Big Brother is their husband, the university their church, as they work to buy the useless consumer goods that keep this system going.
“Peter Costello wants Australia’s mums and dads to consider adding to their family, and is urging the government to back them in to do so.
“It’s clear population growth through immigration has turned down. It could be an opportunity to seize the initiative and try and encourage natural increase again ... this could be a moment for that,” the former treasurer said.
Almost a generation after urging Australian parents to “have one for the country”, Mr Costello has again weighed into the Big Australia debate, saying population growth for its own sake wouldn’t improve the nation’s standard of living, but boosting the birthrate, or at least stemming its decline, is a critical counter to the ageing demographic.
“I don’t argue for a Big Australia, I argue for a younger Australia,” he said in a rare interview.
“There is no point in being big and old. I want a younger Australia, an Australia full of opportunities. The way you build a younger Australia is through natural increase.
“Our long-term interest is in investing in our younger people and getting more out of them.”
Mr Costello’s foray into the population debate came after the federal government’s inaugural Population Statement, released last month, forecast the nation would have 1.1 million fewer people by 2031 than it would have without the impact of COVID-19.
Back in 2004 he famously urged Australian parents to do their patriotic duty.
“You should have one for the father, one for the mother and one for the country. If you want to fix the ageing demographic, that‘s what you do,” he said in launching the federal budget that included a $3000 Baby Bonus.”
The thought counts, anyway.