Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has "changed her tune" on the political climate in Fiji, says the nation's self-appointed leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

On Monday, Ms Gillard said she remained very sceptical of Fiji's promise to hold an election in 2014.

Commodore Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, told FijiLive Monday's comments didn't reflect the opinion Ms Gillard held on the Pacific nation before she stepped in to power.
"It's a change of tune from what she said when she first came into power, that she would engage Fiji," Commodore Bainimarama told the local news website on Tuesday morning.
Ms Gillard said it was important for Australia, the United States and other nations to work together on Fiji to try to ensure the poll was held.

Her comment followed reports that the US and some other countries had talked directly with Fiji's government, bypassing moves to diplomatically isolate Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, installed in a coup.

"We have our plans in place and they have their policy of isolation, I don't think these two will work," Commodore Bainimarama said.

"The US should engage Fiji directly and work with us, it will not work if they are to come through New Zealand and Australia. It will not work as these two countries do not have any high commissions here and secondly, they have failed miserably in trying to engage Fiji with their foreign policies."