Gillard plays down climate assembly

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has sought to play down her widely-criticised plan to have a citizens' assembly on climate change.

The proposal, to have 150 people consider the need for a carbon price before the government makes a decision, has been panned as an unnecessary move that would delay action.

"That's a small part of a broad suite of (climate) policies," Ms Gillard told ABC Radio, as she sought to focus attention on other policies including greening up the electricity grid. She said she understood the public focus was on the citizens' assembly.

The government leaked the proposal to the newspapers before she announced her climate policies, ensuring extensive coverage. "I'd say to your listeners, look at all the rest," Ms Gillard told the ABC.

Ms Gillard would not be drawn on a media report that she did not consult cabinet on the citizens' assembly plan, despite vowing to work closely with other ministers.

The prime minister said cabinet discussions were confidential and for good reason, although she said she had talked with cabinet about the need for a community consensus on a carbon price.

"What's in the newspaper is what's in the newspaper," Ms Gillard said about the media report, in The Australian Financial Review.