[00:00.000]Australia has recorded its highest annual birth rate in nine years,
[00:05.043]with indications that couples are encouraged by low unemployment and economic stability to have babies .
[00:13.014]Population figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released over the Easter break showed
[00:18.324]there were 133,000 births in the six months to September 2004,
[00:25.230]the highest half-year total since 1990 .
[00:28.414]Over the full year to September there were about 255,100 births,
[00:34.272]the highest annual total in nine years,
[00:37.439]giving a fertility rate, or number of births per woman, of 1.773 for 2003-2004.

Australia has recorded its highest annual birth rate in nine years,
with indications that couples are encouraged by low unemployment and economic stability to have babies .
Population figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released over the Easter break showed
there were 133,000 births in the six months to September 2004,
the highest half-year total since 1990 .
Over the full year to September there were about 255,100 births,
the highest annual total in nine years,
giving a fertility rate, or number of births per woman, of 1.773 for 2003-2004.