Ted Baillieu says NBN should be optional

VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu has thrown a significant obstacle in the path of the federal government's National Broadband Network plans.

VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu has thrown a significant obstacle in the path of the federal government's National Broadband Network plans.

Mr Baillieu has declared that the connection of all homes to the fibre optic network "ought to be optional".

In an interview with The Weekend Australian in his electorate of Hawthorn, in Melbourne's inner east, Mr Baillieu stated that he did not want homes to be all automatically connected to the NBN, and preferred an "opt-in" model.

Tasmania, the first state to host a trial of the NBN, introduced legislation to enable all houses to be connected to the network. Householders can then decide whether to take up the broadband internet service.

Former Victorian treasurer John Lenders revealed two days before the election that the state would follow Tasmania and adopt an "opt-out" policy, which would bolster the predicted take-up numbers underpinning the Gillard government's business case.

A summary of the NBN business case, released by the federal government, says about 8.3 million households -- or 69 per cent -- are expected to sign on to services offered over the network.

But Mr Baillieu expressed concern that the take-up rate in those areas where the NBN had been rolled out "is still very low".

"It ought to be optional," he said.

The Premier, who defeated the 11-year-old Labor government in the state election last weekend, said being sworn in by the Victorian Governor on Thursday was a very significant occasion for him.

"A few of us said, around that table, 'Can you pinch me'," he said. "(It) was pretty special. I have to say it was pretty emotional, too."

Mr Baillieu said it was made even more meaningful as he was joined by his family and close friends, including three key advisers -- Tony Nutt, state director of the Liberal Party; Michael Kapel, Mr Baillieu's chief of staff in opposition and in government; and Petro Georgiou, a close friend.

Talking to The Weekend Australian after attending a decidedly more low-key ceremony in his local seat of Hawthorn, where he was officially declared the winner, Mr Baillieu said he was a big fan of West Australian Premier Colin Barnett, who leads the country's only other Coalition government.

"I think he's a very impressive individual and he's modest in his disposition," he said.

"He's attracted a lot of support . . . he is one of the more popular political leaders in the country."

Mr Baillieu said he and Mr Barnett shared many values and had met each other on many occasions. "He made the point very strongly that the states should represent themselves with a surety and firmness and push their point," Mr Baillieu said.

"I agree with that. I have had a lot to do with national organisations and federal organisations in the past, and I always found it important to push Victoria's interests into those organisations."