Australian senate passes Telstra sale legislation

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2005

SYDNEY (AFP) — The government got the green light to fully privatise Australia's largest telecommunications company Telstra after the upper house of parliament approved legislation authorising the controversial 30 billion dollar (23 billion US) sell-off.

The legislation passed the Senate by 37 to 35 votes after key government senator Barnaby Joyce supported the sale after months of wavering on the issue for fear that privatisation would disadvantage his rural constituents.

The five authorising bills are now expected to be approved by the lower House of Representatives on Thursday, where the government has a comfortable majority.

The conservative government of Prime Minister John Howard has pushed for the full sale of Telstra since coming to power almost a...