SA presenter Stephen Rowe lashes out at younger generation, after data reveals low fertility rates

Sports presenter Stephen Rowe has dubbed the younger generation “selfish” for not starting families after stats revealed Australia has the lowest total fertility rate on record.

Outspoken former SA football star Stephen Rowe has dubbed this generation as “selfish” for not prioritising starting a family, after new data revealed concerning fertility rates in the country.

Appearing on his FIVEAA radio show on Wednesday, Rowe didn’t mince his words when slamming younger Australians, saying society had been preoccupied with “holidays, social media, clothes and cars”.

“Back in my day, you fell in love with a beautiful woman, you kept the full-time job, you had some fun at night, you had a baby,” Rowe said.

Outspoken FIVEAA presenter and former Adelaide Crow Stephen Rowe has levelled a bizarre, seemingly unprompted rant on air.

“You either rented or bought a house, you worked hard, actually turned up to work and worked hard, built a life and a family together and then everything else was insignificant.”

However, the former Adelaide Crows player’s controversial view was met with backlash from fellow presenter Stacey Lee, with the 34-year-old highlighting today’s pressures on younger people when it comes to things like buying a home.

According to new data released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia has marked the lowest total fertility rate on record in 2023, with 1.50 babies per woman.

There were 286, 998 births registered in the country, and 18,556 births registered in South Australia between 2022 to 2023 – a 946 decrease.

The data revealed women aged 30 to 34 years old continue to have the highest age-specific fertility rate – 105.2 babies per 1,000 women, followed by women aged 25 to 29 years with 74.9 babies per 1,000 women.

Lee’s opposition to Rowe’s views prompted her to ask the former footballer how many people could afford a house on one income.

“I had to do it on two incomes,” Rowey replied. “I was just lucky that I had football and a career outside.”

Lee explained that she would not have been able to afford the house she shares with her partner if she was not working full-time.

“I can’t work full-time with a baby, can I,” she asked. “You just called me selfish”.

However, Rowe was not deterred with his views and continued to say that “modern people were selfish”.

“You want all of these things and you want them today,” he said.

“Have a baby and it will work itself out, you’re in love and you’ve got a kid.”

Lee also mentioned house prices have increased, which could be a factor for the low fertility rates.

“You need to have $2m dollars to buy a house,” she said, before Rowey added his first house was a “one-bedroom unit in Woodville”.

“The young generation are selfish, they want all these things, they want go on overseas holidays five times and stay at luxury hotels,” he said.

“How about settle down and have a family, wouldn’t that be a great little thought.”