Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce will probably flip again, backing
legislation to clear the way for a Telstra share sale after he
assures himself that funding of the $2 billion bush
telecommunications fund is secure, says Malcolm Maiden in The Smage. But the chances of a sale actually occurring next year depend on
what Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo has to say at the end of
next month, when he announces the results of his stocktake of the
company. Trujillo has the opportunity next month to launch a fresh
strategic direction for Telstra that requires a new way of working
out what the company is worth.

Toll Holdings will attempt to turn around negative sentiment
surrounding its $4.6 billion takeover bid for Patrick Corp when it
dispatches its bidder’s statement this week, reports The Smage. Already facing doubts that the deal will be approved by the
competition regulator, Toll will battle to convince the market its
$6.70 a share scrip and cash offer is good value.

The Fin Review reports that the federal and state governments
are facing a backlash from large companies and operators of airports,
ports and other critical infrastructure over a blow-out in the cost
of implementing strict new security requirements, which will reach over
$500 million this year.

And pressure is increasing on Comalco to approve a $1.3 billion expansion program for the world’s largest
alumina refinery at Gladstone in central Queensland, reports The Australian.