Crucial support keeps Telstra sale on track

The Australian Parliament was set yesterday to approve the full privatisation of Telstra Corp after a key senator signalled he would support the Government selling its 51.8 per cent stake in the company.

Senator Barnaby Joyce is a member of the National Party, the junior partner in the Liberal/National Coalition Government, and his vote is crucial to for approving the Telstra sale as the Government has just a one-seat majority in the upper house.

When asked if he would vote for the sale of the Government's A$28 billion Telstra stake, Joyce said: "I always keep my options open just in case some clanger was to fall on the table this afternoon - I don't think it will."

Joyce has been wavering on his support because he wanted to ensure that rural phone services would be protected.