<p>Australia will boost defence spending by A$1 billion ($716.80 million) to upgrade military facilities and offer additional paid employment to army reservists, as Canberra seeks to soften the economic blow of Covid-19.</p>.<p>In a fresh round of stimulus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday promised greater spending on defence in a bid to grow the country's military and support 4,000 jobs.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank">Track live updates on coronavirus here</a></strong></p>.<p>"Today is again about the JobMaker plan, doing everything we can as we grow out of the Covid-19 recession to ensure that we keep Australians in jobs, and we keep businesses in business," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.</p>.<p>While Australia has reported far fewer cases of Covid-19 compared to other developed countries, restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the virus have had a devastating impact on the country's economy, which will slip into a recession for the first time in three decades.</p>.<p>Australia has so far promised to spend about A$260 billion in stimulus to support its ailing economy.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>The additional defence spending will also assist Australia with its commitment to grow defence spending to more than 2% of its Gross Domestic Product, a key demand of US President Donald Trump who has accused allies of not pulling their weight.</p>.<p>Morrison said many of the military facilities earmarked for upgrades will be in areas impacted by bushfires earlier this year.</p>.<p>Fires razed more than 11 million hectares (37 million acres) of bushland across Australia's southeast early this year, killing at least 33 people and billions of native animals, a disaster that Morrison called Australia's "black summer".</p>.<p>The fresh stimulus will include A$200 million for military vehicle modifications.</p>.<p>Morrison also said A$80 million will be spent to offer additional part-time employment to 27,000 Australian Defence Force Reserve members.</p>.<p>Australia has reported 25,067 cases of Covid-19 and 525 deaths from the virus.</p>
<p>Australia will boost defence spending by A$1 billion ($716.80 million) to upgrade military facilities and offer additional paid employment to army reservists, as Canberra seeks to soften the economic blow of Covid-19.</p>.<p>In a fresh round of stimulus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday promised greater spending on defence in a bid to grow the country's military and support 4,000 jobs.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank">Track live updates on coronavirus here</a></strong></p>.<p>"Today is again about the JobMaker plan, doing everything we can as we grow out of the Covid-19 recession to ensure that we keep Australians in jobs, and we keep businesses in business," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.</p>.<p>While Australia has reported far fewer cases of Covid-19 compared to other developed countries, restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the virus have had a devastating impact on the country's economy, which will slip into a recession for the first time in three decades.</p>.<p>Australia has so far promised to spend about A$260 billion in stimulus to support its ailing economy.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>The additional defence spending will also assist Australia with its commitment to grow defence spending to more than 2% of its Gross Domestic Product, a key demand of US President Donald Trump who has accused allies of not pulling their weight.</p>.<p>Morrison said many of the military facilities earmarked for upgrades will be in areas impacted by bushfires earlier this year.</p>.<p>Fires razed more than 11 million hectares (37 million acres) of bushland across Australia's southeast early this year, killing at least 33 people and billions of native animals, a disaster that Morrison called Australia's "black summer".</p>.<p>The fresh stimulus will include A$200 million for military vehicle modifications.</p>.<p>Morrison also said A$80 million will be spent to offer additional part-time employment to 27,000 Australian Defence Force Reserve members.</p>.<p>Australia has reported 25,067 cases of Covid-19 and 525 deaths from the virus.</p>