Australia commits extra A$2 billion for bushfire rebuilding

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA Premier & ATP 250 - Nature Valley International - Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Britain - June 24, 2018 Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in action during her first round match against Greece's Maria Sakkari Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Australia will commit an extra A$2 billion ($1.39 billion) over the next two years to help cover the cost of rebuilding as bushfires ravage the country, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

He told a news conference the government would pay "whatever it costs" to recover from the fires, which are likely to run for weeks or months yet.

Around A$500 million of funding would be allotted for the fiscal year that ends in June 2020, with A$1 billion earmarked for 2020/21 and A$500 million for 2021/22.

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2019 Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko in action during her first round match against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei REUTERS/Carl Recine

If further funding was needed, it would be provided, Morrison said.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)