Australia is on course for a major demographic transformation, with deaths expected to surpass births by the 2060s as fertility rates decline and the population grows older. From that point, net migration would become the nation’s only source of population growth.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said migration would remain vital as Australia faces a smaller proportion of younger people alongside a rapidly ageing population.

‘Despite these pressures, we’re better placed than many others. Migration will play a role here too, an important source of skills that complements our domestic workforce.’

According to the report, new migrants have a median age of 26, significantly lower than the median age of 38 among Australia’s existing population.

Australia’s population is still forecast to expand, although growth is expected to slow sharply, reaching 39.3 million by 2065–66.

‘Deaths are projected to outnumber births by the 2060s – the first time this has been forecast in an IGR – at which point natural increase will no longer be a driver of population growth,’ the report states.

Japan, South Korea and Germany are among the advanced economies that have already reached this point. For Australia, however, it would represent a profound shift in the country’s demographic outlook.

The national fertility rate is forecast to drop from 1.48 babies per woman today to 1.34 by 2065–66.

The number of Australians aged under 20 is now expected to rise by only 10.4 per cent by the early 2060s, well below the almost 28 per cent increase predicted in the 2023 report.

By contrast, the population aged 85 and over is projected to triple during the next 40 years.

Chalmers said the fact that Australians are living longer was overwhelmingly positive, even though it would add to pressure on the federal budget.

‘Australians living longer and healthier lives is obviously overwhelmingly a good thing,’ he said.

‘It’s welcome recognition of the quality of our universal healthcare and the contribution that older people make, and it’s worth every dollar of extra pressure that it puts on our budgets.’

An ageing population is expected to intensify pressure on public finances as demand increases for hospitals, aged care, disability support and other healthcare services.

ALSO READ: Patrick Clancy Says He Forgave Ex-Wife Lindsay for Killing 3 Kids

Federal government payments are projected to rise to 27.7 per cent of GDP over the next four decades, with population ageing listed as a major contributor to increased spending.

Chalmers said ageing alone would account for one-third of all additional health expenditure over the next 40 years.

Treasury now forecasts average annual population growth of 0.9 per cent over the next four decades. That is below the 1.1 per cent estimate in the 2023 Intergenerational Report and the 1.4 per cent average recorded over the past 40 years.

Chalmers also appeared to take a veiled swipe at Pauline Hanson while discussing the report.

‘Of course the findings and forecasts in this Report will challenge us and some of them in confronting ways,’ he said.

‘And of course much of it will be weaponised by those who always see things through a more pessimistic and often more political lens.

‘If people are unmoored economically, generationally, they feel disconnected from and disregarded in our politics. At worst, that’s what we’re seeing now. At best, it’s what’s at stake.

‘Accelerating change is putting more pressure on people. It’s eroding trust in the institutions of democracy. It’s exacerbating the strain felt by younger Australians and younger generations in particular.

And so the division in politics now is not between those who accept all of this and those who don’t. It’s between those who prey on it, and pick at it, and politicise it, and catastrophise it, and those who seek to alleviate it.’

He also suggested extending political terms could help governments focus more on long-term challenges. 

‘So much of the incentive in our political system encourages people to think in shorter and shorter term ways, in shorter and shorter term cycles,’ he said.

The Treasurer said Australia’s future prosperity would increasingly depend on emerging industries as the economy adapts to an older population and changing global demand.

He added that renewable energy, critical minerals and AI-powered industries would become increasingly important sources of growth.

An Australian family is preparing to leave the Gold Coast for Italy, believing the move could free them from a mortgage and ease the pressure of Australia’s rising cost of living.

Krysti-Glory Gallo, a stylist and designer, and her husband, Ricardo Parata, who works in education, started looking at Italian property late last year as they searched for a more affordable and enjoyable way of life.

The couple found a three-bedroom terrace in the historic Tuscan city of Lucca priced at €205,000, or approximately $330,500. They intend to move there with their two children, aged seven and 11, in February 2027.

Ms Gallo told Daily Mail that relocating felt like an obvious choice, particularly as the family faced paying off the remaining $600,000 mortgage on their Gold Coast property.

“We realised moving overseas was a better option than staying in Australia when my wage no longer covered our mortgage,” Ms Gallo said.

The family bought their current home for $525,000 in 2023 and expects to sell it for roughly $1 million towards the end of 2026.

Ms Gallo calculated that paying the loan across its full 30-year term would have brought the total cost of the mortgage to about $1.295 million.

After clearing the outstanding debt, the couple expects to retain approximately $450,000 in equity from the sale.

“We knew that, regardless of how much equity was tied up in our home, we could not access it while the cost of living kept climbing,” Ms Gallo said.

She said the expected $450,000 profit would give the family enough capital to replace their Gold Coast home with a similarly sized property in Italy.

“We can take that equity to Italy, own our home outright and begin with 100 per cent equity from the very first day.”

Ms Gallo believes the move will also give the family greater financial breathing room and reduce the daily stress caused by their current expenses.

“Ricardo is working two jobs—one full time, while the other involves nights, weekends and travel—and we still have to check our bank balances before buying basic necessities.

“We could either keep complaining about our circumstances or look for an answer. The answer had been right in front of us all along.”

Together, the couple has three sources of income and earns between $150,000 and $160,000 annually. Even so, they estimate their household spending is at least $120,000 a year.

By owning a home in Italy, they believe they could support their family on an annual budget of around €45,000, equivalent to approximately $72,500.

In a series of TikTok videos detailing their relocation journey, Mr Parata said the move was about improving the family’s quality of life rather than earning more money.

“We are not changing our lifestyle simply because of the income. We are changing it so we can genuinely enjoy our lives,” he said.

“Any additional income is simply a bonus.”

‘One thing I will add is that Italian incomes are a lot less than Australian incomes, but when cost of living is a lot less, you can do more with your income.’

Their Italian home will be ‘like for like’ with their Gold Coast townhouse, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms spread across three levels. 

MORE STORY: Meryl Streep Faces Backlash Over Aslan Casting in Narnia

However, its 30sqm garden meant the property was also an upgrade.

‘We actually have more land in Italy now with a decent yard for our kids,’ Ms Gallo said.

‘Although it has been renovated completely (roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating), we will update it to make it our own aesthetically.’

She estimated the completed renovations would have cost them about €70,000 (A$112,746) if they completed it themselves. 

Although the Lucca property was one suburb away from their preferred area, Ms Gallo said they were attracted by its proximity to shops, other amenities and the local school. 

‘It had everything we needed and it is ready to live in right now,’ she said on TikTok.

‘It’s literally a five-to-10 minute bike ride to the suburb we were originally looking at and the children can still walk to the local school. 

‘Our youngest will go to school 200m across the road.’

Ms Gallo told Daily Mail she was looking forward to the family enjoying a better quality of life in Italy. 

‘At the moment, no matter what we have done to simplify our life, it just never seems like we have a minute spare to breathe and our time together is rushed,’ she said.

‘We hope that our days don’t feel long.’

She said the family would also spend some weekends travelling to other countries.

‘We can fly to places like [the] UK, Germany and Greece for the weekend for the price it costs to fill up Ricardo’s ute.’

Although her children were initially hesitant about the move, Ms Gallo said they understood the benefits of experiencing the other side of the world.  

‘The boys naturally took time to understand the reason behind the move, but our oldest is now aware of what it costs to keep a house here in Australia and the challenges that we are facing,’ she said.

‘They’re also aware that they will finally be able to experience the other half of their culture. 

‘Ricardo and I are both Italian, so for them to have dual citizenship and eventually be bilingual will only open doors for them as adults.’ 

– READ MORE: Experts warn mortgage bills for Aussies likely to surge not once but twice over the coming months 

A Sydney exhibition featuring real human bodies—including specimens posed in sexual positions—has prompted an ethics debate, with an anatomy lecturer questioning whether donors fully understood how their remains might be displayed after death.

Dr Joyce El-Haddad, a senior lecturer in anatomy and histology at UNSW, has raised concerns about whether donors provided informed consent for the specific uses and presentations of their bodies.

Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness uses real human bodies preserved through plastination, a process that replaces bodily fluids with durable materials. The exhibition has drawn millions of visitors worldwide since its launch more than two decades ago.

“The organisers claim that the bodies have been donated,” Dr El-Haddad said.

“The bodies are displayed in many different ways—some riding a horse, some in penetrative sexual positions, some with a basketball—and the list goes on.”

She said informed consent should involve more than simply signing a form and called for closer consideration of who donated the bodies, what they understood they were agreeing to and how specific the consent process was.

“Respect, dignity, transparency and context do not disappear simply because somebody signed a form,” she said.

Exhibition organisers say the body donation program, established in 1982, has registered more than 21,000 donors around the world and represents the “ethical cornerstone” of Body Worlds.

The program has been managed by Germany’s Institute for Plastination since 1993. It is no longer accepting new donor applications after reaching capacity.

A review of the institute’s donor consent documents found that donors agree their remains may be used to create “anatomical works of art” intended for the “medical enlightenment of laypeople” in museums and exhibitions.

The forms also state that donors understand their bodies may be supplied to organisations operating on a commercial basis.

Donors may indicate preferences for how their bodies are used, including requests for particular poses, although the institute says it “cannot guarantee” those wishes will be met.

The agreement further allows photographs and other images of plastinated bodies to be used indefinitely for educational, scientific and public information purposes.

Body Worlds is promoted as an educational experience aimed at improving public knowledge of anatomy, health and disease.

ALSO READ: Patrick Clancy Says He Suffered Panic Attack During Lindsay’s Trial

However, Dr El-Haddad questioned how much visitors could learn about health, illness, ageing and wellbeing without knowing more about the lives and experiences of the people whose bodies are displayed.

“Think about your everyday encounters with people. How much do you assume about someone before you’ve spoken with them—before you’ve heard about their experiences, challenges, choices and circumstances?”

‘The exhibition claims that it is educational….okay, but: Education requires more than information.

‘We often assume that simply looking at something means we are learning from it.

‘A diseased lung can show us what happened. It cannot tell us about addiction, socioeconomic disadvantage, environmental exposures, access to healthcare, culture, or the lived experience of disease.

‘Without that context, visitors are left to construct their own narratives and make their own assumptions.

‘And if the exhibition is also open to children, what assumptions are they taking away?’

Dr El-Haddad said her concerns also stemmed from the long and often controversial history of displaying human remains to the public.

Human bodies and remains have previously been exhibited in cabinets of curiosity, travelling fairs, medical museums, carnival sideshows and so-called ‘human zoos’.

She noted such displays have at times been linked to racism, ableism, colonialism, sexism, classism and exploitation, and questioned what distinguished modern body exhibitions from those historical practices.

‘So my question is – what shields modern day human body exhibitions from the same condemnation?’

Despite her concerns, Dr El-Haddad said attending the exhibition was ultimately a matter of personal choice.

‘Well, ultimately that is up to you and I hope this post helps you make a better informed decision that aligns with your values.’

The organisers of the exhibition have been contacted for comment.

Meryl Streep’s reported casting as the voice of Aslan in the next Narnia movie has triggered strong criticism from some Christian viewers, while others have condemned the decision as a “woke” gender swap.

Greta Gerwig, the filmmaker behind Barbie (2023) and Little Women (2019), is writing and directing Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.

The fantasy film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on February 12, 2027, ahead of its Netflix debut on April 2.

Streep, 77, is set to provide the voice of Aslan, the powerful, talking lion whose role in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia stories is widely understood as an allegorical parallel to Jesus Christ.

Liam Neeson previously voiced Aslan in the three Narnia films released between 2005 and 2010. Together, those movies earned approximately $1.5 billion at the global box office.

News of Streep’s casting prompted a wave of responses on X, with critics questioning the decision to have a female actor voice the traditionally male lion and some Christian users accusing the production of undermining the character’s religious symbolism.

One social media user argued that Aslan’s connection to Jesus made the casting difficult to understand, pointing out that both the biblical figure and Lewis’ lion are presented as male.

Another commenter, who said they had admired Streep’s work for four decades, urged her to reconsider the project. They claimed the actress was being used to insult Christians and questioned whether that was how she wanted her career to be remembered.

The longtime fan ended the message by identifying themselves as a lifelong supporter of the actress and asking her to “stop now.”

Elsewhere, an X user dismissed the casting as another example of “woke” Hollywood, predicting that the decision would alienate audiences and hurt the film financially.

Another critic questioned why a male lion would be voiced by Streep, calling the choice “ridiculous” and arguing that it did not fit the character.

A further post accused Gerwig of mishandling Lewis’ classic story, saying its Christian undertones should not be removed. The user described what they saw as Hollywood’s treatment of the source material as both troubling and prejudiced.

Another commenter maintained that taking away Narnia’s Christian themes would fundamentally transform the story rather than simply modernize it.

They added that Hollywood appeared to want the imagery and appeal of Christian art without retaining its central references to Christ.

One fan called the decision “insane,” emphasizing that Aslan is portrayed as a male lion, the “king of beasts,” and a figure representing Christ. The commenter predicted that the film would fail before release.

Another user described the casting as a bold but potentially damaging move for a story with strong Christian influences, comparing the controversy to the backlash surrounding Snow White and asking why Hollywood continues to make similar choices.

Another said, ‘CS Lewis is cringing from beyond the grave,’ and one wrote, ‘Can’t wait not to watch. You know what would be unique these days? A faithful adaptation. This subversion is old and boring af.’ 

‘That’s okay, we already have great Narnia movies. This one just won’t exist in my household,’ an X user shared. 

One wrote, ‘Should not be called The Chronicles of Narnia. This is by far the worst adaptation of a book.’ 

Others voiced their thoughts on social media, including political commentator Isabel Brown.

‘In case there’s ANY confusion, CS Lewis literally intended Aslan to be the incarnation of Christ inside the world of Narnia.’ 

She also wrote, ‘Aslan is more than an allegory for Christ, he *is* how the creatures of Narnia experience Christ in their world just as we experience Jesus Christ as an incarnate MAN in ours. 

ALSO READ: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Says Washington Proposed AI Incident Alert System in China Talks

‘To cast Meryl Streep as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia is a slap in the face to the genius of Lewis, but also a deliberate mockery of Christianity that is 100% intentional. So deeply disappointing.’

Some, however, expressed interest and support in the casting. 

One said, ‘Meryl streep voicing aslan with a david bowie inspired design? that is such a wild combination, but i’m very c[u]rious to see how greta gerwig pulls it together.’ 

Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Streep for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Gerwig recently opened up about the casting of Streep in the upcoming Narnia film during an interview with Empire. 

‘I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,’ the filmmaker told the outlet. ‘Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight.’ 

Gerwig continued, ‘I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. 

‘And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.’ 

She additionally explained that singer David Bowie had been one of the inspirations behind her version of Aslan and the film itself. 

In the book titled A To Z With C.S. Lewis, author Louis Markos discussed Aslan and Christ with Lewis.

‘Though many readers assume that Aslan, the lion king of Narnia who dies and rises again, is an allegory for Christ, Lewis himself disagreed,’ Markos wrote in an excerpt, per The Gospel Coalition. 

‘According to his creator, Aslan is not an allegory for Christ but the Christ of Narnia. The distinction is vital. 

‘Were Aslan only an allegory, a mere stand-in for the hero of the Gospels, he would not engage the reader as he does.’

Markos added, ‘In fact, as Lewis explained, Aslan is what the second person of the Trinity (God the Son) might have been like had he been incarnated in a magical world of talking animals and living trees. 

‘As such, Aslan takes on a force and a reality that speaks to us through the pages of the Chronicles of Narnia.’ 

The Magician’s Nephew is an ‘origin story for Narnia’ and ‘is the first ever adaptation’ of Lewis’ sixth book in the Narnia series, but appears as the first volume.

Gerwig explained that she first read The Magician’s Nephew as a child ‘and I fell in love with the gorgeously improbable but completely brilliant concept of a cosmic lion singing the world of Narnia to life,’ per an official statement. 

She gushed that it is an ‘honor of a lifetime’ to bring the story to life. 

After reading the Narnia series, the actress and filmmaker added that she ‘believed in magic and hidden worlds and adventure. I believed that anywhere could be enchanted and that anyone could be swept up into an epic. 

‘That wonder and awe was available to everyone, even ordinary people like me… It transformed me.’