INDEPENDENT MP Tony Windsor says Tony Abbott "begged" him to back the coalition for minority government after 2010 election, pledging to do "anything" to gain power.

Mr Windsor, who is on a committee developing a carbon pricing mechanism, said he had discussed climate change with Mr Abbott during negotiations on minority government after the election.

The NSW independent MP said he had put three proposals to Labor leader Julia Gillard and Mr Abbott - that the Productivity Commission review international carbon pricing systems, that Professor Ross Garnaut update his landmark climate report and that a climate commission be set up to lead the public debate.

Mr Windsor said Mr Abbott had talked about his "direct action" policy on climate change, rather than putting a price on carbon.

"But ... Tony Abbott on a number of occasions said that he would do absolutely anything to gain government - anything," Mr Windsor told Sky News.

"One could draw a conclusion from that that if we pulled a tight rein and said `Well, you've got government if you put a carbon price on' he would agree with it - that was the inference from his statements."

Mr Windsor said he had made a "character judgment" about Mr Abbott after the discussions.

"He actually begged for the job ... (he said) 'I will do anything to get this job'," Mr Windsor said.

He said he was disappointed the coalition was now not interested in being involved in the climate change debate.

Mr Windsor earlier launched new research on the regional and rural impact of carbon pricing.

Mr Windsor said more than 30,000 jobs are waiting to be created in the transition to environmentally-friendly electricity generation.