Australia’s birth rate is plunging to 1.4 babies per woman — the lowest on record and far below the replacement level of 2.1. 

While Labor and the Coalition are silent, Family First is sounding the alarm. 

Former Treasurer Peter Costello, famous for his successful baby bonus which increased the fertility rate, is right to say this week’s news of a plummeting birth rate is a “major concern”.

Costello says our demographic collapse will affect productivity, economic growth and the fabric of society.

But there’s no policy response from the major parties — just more immigration. 

Family First believes in building Australia’s future through strong families, not relying primarily on immigration.

The most common reason young couples give for delaying children is cost of living. Housing, power, groceries, and childcare are all too expensive. 

That’s why Family First is making cutting the cost of living a centrepiece of our 2025 federal election campaign. 

We’ll fight to bring down power prices by scrapping Labor’s reckless renewables push and backing affordable coal, gas and nuclear. 

We’ll release more land and reduce red tape to ease the housing crisis. 

And to support stay-at-home parents — mostly mothers — we’ll introduce income splitting, so families can share their income for tax purposes, easing the burden on single-income households. 

Raising children is the most valuable contribution any couple can make to the future of Australia. It shouldn’t come with a financial penalty. 

The Albanese government says it “has no position” on encouraging families to have children. Family First has a very clear one. 

We stand for mums and dads. 

We stand for babies. 

And we stand for a future that’s built on Australian families, not permanent dependence on mass migration. 

Vote 1 Family First to make Australia family-friendly again.

Family First welcomes Vice-President JD Vance’s powerful pro-life speech at last week’s March for Life in Washington DC.

He made a compelling case for protecting unborn babies—something no establishment Australian political leader dares to do.

“We march to proclaim and live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God,” Vance declared. 

Speaking as a father, he described the awe of welcoming new life: “Each time Usha and I welcomed our own children into the world, we saw firsthand the indescribable beauty of new life.”

Yet, this joy comes with responsibility. “It is our responsibility to cherish and to protect it.”

Vance stressed that protecting life is about more than opposing abortion—it’s about fostering a pro-family culture.

“The task of our movement is to protect innocent life. It’s to defend the unborn, and it’s also to be pro-family and pro-life in the fullest sense of that word possible.”  

But he warned that Western societies are failing in this duty.

“Our society has failed to recognise the obligation that one generation has to another is a core part of living in a society to begin with.”

He condemned the rise of radical individualism, where family life is seen as a burden rather than a blessing.

Instead, Vance called for policies that make it easier to have and raise children.

“I want more babies in the United States of America. I want more happy children in our country. And I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them.”  

To achieve this, he said government must do more: “It is the task of our government to make it easier for young mums and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are.”

Family First agrees, which is why we support policies such as income splitting for tax purposes to give mothers, or fathers, a real choice when it comes to caring for their own children at home.

Vance’s leadership exposes the cowardice of Australian politicians on the issue of pro-family and pro-life policy.

While he boldly defends unborn life, leaders here either stay silent or actively protect our radical abortion-to-birth laws. 

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has even gagged his MPs from discussing Australia’s extreme abortion laws, ensuring the issue remains unchallenged.

This is despite Australia being one of the few nations in the world that permits abortion right up to birth.

Labor is all in on abortion-to-birth and wants to expand access to it, even though it is readily available and subsidised by pro-life Australians through their compulsory Medicare Levy. 

Vance reminded us of a truth too many in politics refuse to acknowledge: “It is a blessing to know the truth, and the truth is that unborn life is worthy of protection.” 

He cut through the euphemisms that dehumanise the unborn: “That picture on an ultrasound, that is a picture of a baby with hopes and dreams and potential to come.”

Above all, Vance called on pro-lifers to embrace their mission with optimism.

“It is a joy and a blessing to fight for the unborn, to work for the unborn, and to march for life.”  

Family First echoes this joy and stands with Vance in calling for a society that cherishes life. 

Australian politicians must stop silencing debate and start advocating for policies that support life and family.

As Vance said: “We are joyful to march for life. We are joyful to know that that picture on an ultrasound, that is a picture of a baby with hopes and dreams and potential to come.”

The Family Court's recent decision to permit a teenager, pseudonymously referred to as Ash, to access cross-sex hormones exposes the dangers inherent in LGBTIQA+ gender fluid ideology.

Judge Peter Tree openly acknowledged the "real risks" posed by so-called “gender affirming” treatment, including potential infertility, irreversible physical changes, and uncertain mental health outcomes.

Yet, instead of erring on the side of caution, the court chose to allow the treatment, citing Ash's "dignity of risk."

This stark admission by the judiciary underscores an urgent question: why are Australia's elected politicians failing to protect vulnerable children from harm?

Leaving these contentious and life-altering decisions to courts demonstrates a glaring abdication of responsibility.

The Family First Party strongly believes that it is not the role of judges to navigate such complex issues without clear legislative guidance.

Policymakers must urgently step up to safeguard children and provide a framework grounded in scientific evidence and long-term welfare.

Legal academic Professor Patrick Parkinson has expressed deep concerns over the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in children, noting, "Many parents now have serious concerns about the safety and efficacy of these treatments."

He advocates for thorough psychological investigation and therapy before any medical interventions are considered.

The Family First Party echoes these sentiments and urges Australian politicians to heed the lessons of international reviews, such as the UK Cass Review, which recommended extreme caution in administering such treatments to minors and led to the closure of the UK’s Tavistock child gender clinic.

Child gender clinics abound in Australia, despite the UK and many other nations ditching LGBTIQA+ gender medicine.

Failure of Australian politicians to act will only lead to more children being subjected to unproven and potentially harmful medical procedures, with the courts admitting that "regret cases" are likely in the future.

This is a pivotal moment for Australia's leaders.

Politicians must confront the risks of gender fluid ideology and act decisively to implement laws that protect children from unnecessary and irreversible harm.

The Family First Party is fielding candidates at the up-coming federal election who will fight for the protection of children from harmful LGBTIQA+ gender fluid ideology.

MEDIA RELEASE

Our politicians can't say they didn't know.