Per RTRS: "Australia will spend another...>

AUSTRALIA: Per RTRS: "Australia will spend another A$1.5 billion ($1.03 billion)

on infrastructure and fast-track approval for projects including the expansion

of BHP Group's Olympic Dam in a bid to stimulate its ailing economy, Prime

Minister Scott Morrison will say on Monday. In March, Australia shut down large

swathes of its economy to slow the spread of coronavirus. While the measures

have slowed the infection rate, they have had a devastating toll on the economy,

which is on course for its first recession in 30 years. Australia has already

brought forward A$3.8 billion in infrastructure spending, but Morrison will on

Monday promise a further A$1.5 billion in funds. "As we come out of the COVID

crisis, infrastructure can give us the edge that many countries don't have,"

Morrison is expected to say on Monday, according to extracts sent to Reuters by

his office."