That was the reaction of Deb Longhurst from the MIA organisation Linking Communities Network when she found out an academic had this week suggested “poor people should have fewer children”. 

The statement was made by the dean of medicine at Bond University, Peter Jones, in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday. 

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Jones accepted the suggestion of creating public policies to limit the size of families among disadvantaged communities was controversial, but “essential” given the large number of children in care away from their parents. 

Mr Jones said parents who are unable to care for their children should not be given incentives to have more. 

Ms Longhurst was outraged the suggestion would even be raised in today’s day and age. 

“I’m appalled by that idea,” she said. 

“You could have a woman with seven children whose husband dies and then she needs to access welfare payments … she shouldn’t be looked down upon or have people think she can’t look after her children. 

“The problem is within the system and that’s what the government should be looking at. 

“It’s not a society problem, it’s a system problem.”

Professor Jones also questioned who there were uncapped child support subsidies given to people in socially disadvantaged situations. However, Ms Longhurst said people didn’t have children just to access welfare payments. 

“If people think that’s true, well that’s just crazy,” she said. 

“A lot of people accessing these payments are really struggling or embarrassed this is what they need to do. I’m not even sure how you would go implementing this idea. 

“It seems crazy and hugely unfair to me. Having something like this in place would only cause more harm than good.”