What do you think is the biggest barrier to breastfeeding In Australia?

[Smoke Jaguar]

Definitely lack of education all round, IMO and in my experiences/conversations with other women.
For instance, many women do not realise that stress about BFing difficulties (including pain, cracked nipples etc) can and will affect letdown. I was lucky that I was subscribed to the ABA by a relative. I received my free book and read it before DS was born. The book told me about stress affecting letdown. The book helped me diagnose vasospasm that I had instead of hindered letdown (oversupply meant I had major letdown!) - that was my manifestation of the stress of attachment problems caused by undiagnosed tongue-tie. The book was my first education, then I went to meetings and have been reading Essence religiously for their research updates etc and began educating myself.
Lack of education lets down far too many women in this country. I am not saying that women who give up are ignorant. I'm saying that many are being failed by our 'health system', that could do with a goodly bit of breastfeeding education because that would then alleviate the burden on the health system in so many, indirect ways.
I have said it before and will say it again, instead of trying to scare the bejesus out of me when I was pregnant, those women with their birth story badges (the worse the birth, the better the story) should have told me about breastfeeding. One of them had the nerve to tel me, after finding out that I was having attachment problems, "yeah, it looks easy, but it's not, is it?"...you tell me NOW? When you could have prepared me for this two months ago???
Anyway, I digress. I totally support the idea of breastfeeding education for our school children - boys and girls. Muslim women must be taught about it, as it is enshrined in the Quran - anyone care to educate me? The Quran and that fat man, Buddha, have got some great teachings to live by! Again, I digress... it's late and I should be in bed, or writing an assignment...

[Phteven]

Anyway, I digress. I totally support the idea of breastfeeding education for our school children - boys and girls. Muslim women must be taught about it, as it is enshrined in the Quran - anyone care to educate me? The Quran and that fat man, Buddha, have got some great teachings to live by! Again, I digress... it's late and I should be in bed, or writing an assignment...

yep, In Islam it is regarded as child's right to be breastfed for 2 years (by its mother or failing that a wet-nurse). Of course it's also recognised that this isn't possible for some women so there are allowances made.
Judaism has similar perspective. Yael started a thread about it here

I think that with this in mind that to promote breastfeeding the government needs to look at culturally sensitive campains that target specific communities ie campain that suits the Muslim community would make referance to the Quranic verses as well as the modern research and another campain that targets the Jewish community would refer to the Talmud as well as modern research and so on...
Alos it would be great if the government could fund the ABA to do some sort of outreach work - visiting schools, mosques, churches, sports clubs etc.
We can't really expect that a one-size-fits-all approach is going to influnce everyone.

Also I don't understand why the government can't mount a massive tv campain - they have the funds to promote all sorts of other stuff (like thier super changes) so why not a health campain for breastfeeding? It should be shoved into people's faces during Neighbours; it would make a nice change from gangrenous toes lol.