WEEK one of the federal election campaign has quickly passed, with the major parties treading cautiously in the first stages of what’s expected to be a close campaign.Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday unveiled plans for a $1 billion investment over a decade in the national electricity grid, which she hopes will make it more sympathetic to renewable energy, and for tougher emissions standards for new coal-fired power stations. But it was her notion of a 150-person citizens assembly to decide the fate of an emissions trading scheme that struck a chord with voters – for all the wrong reasons.Australia already has an assembly of otherwise ordinary people who make decisions for and on behalf of the rest of us – namely, our federal politicians.Ms Gillard’s pledge to act when the Australian economy is ready and when the Australian people are ready for action on climate change needs further clarification.Her party went to a federal election in 2007 promising action on the issue, but the rhetoric has so far fallen short of the Australian peoples’ expectations.For his part, Tony Abbott has been quick to declare his stance on an emissions trading scheme by refusing to even establish a price on carbon.It was a conviction and willingness to embrace the need for action on climate change that helped shape the previous election outcome. Seemingly, the differences between the two major parties on this important issue are obvious, but voters still have the right to know more about what the government plans to do to be able to make a better informed decision on election day.