Australia's government said on Sunday it would spend an extra A$95 million ($64.13 million) to protect against a destructive bird flu strain that has spread through bird and mammal populations worldwide but not yet reached the island continent.

Australia is the only continent yet to detect the highly pathogenic strain which has caused havoc across the globe.

Biosecurity, environmental funding for protected native species and a top-up of the national stockpile of flu vaccines are part of preparations for the arrival of H5N1 to Australia.