Intelligence and diplomatic sources have told The Canberra Times that Australia's spy agencies, especially the top-secret Defence Signals Directorate, collected and channelled intelligence on the negotiating positions of other countries before the global climate change talks.

Particular priority was given to Australia's neighbours in Asia and the South Pacific.

''Copenhagen's been one of the Government's top international priorities, and that's reflected in our intelligence collection,'' one intelligence official said.

''Preparations for a big multilateral conference inevitably generate an enormous flow of communications, so the big challenge is to sort the wheat from the chaff.''

Sources said the spy agencies' focus on the climate conference was determined by the Federal Government's National Intelligence Collection Committee, which is chaired by national security adviser Duncan Lewis.

The focus reflected broad priorities endorsed by cabinet's national security committee.

Mr Rudd will attend the Copenhagen conference next week, accompanied by Climate Change Minister Penny Wong.

They will be supported by 112 advisers, officials and diplomats.

Officials acknowledged that diplomatic reporting and public sources were the primary sources of information before the conference, but said secret intelligence, especially signals intelligence, provided ''insights into what foreign governments are really thinking, gives advance warning of initiatives and helps guard against surprises''.

''Some of what is intercepted may not be earth-shattering, but it gives our policymakers confidence that they know what's really happening,'' one intelligence source said.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times