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.