Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen is yet to unveil a 2035 target but has committed to announcing one before the next election, due by May 2025.
Australia has a legislated 2050 net-zero policy and is aiming to reach a 43 per cent reduction by 2030.
But more options were needed to achieve the short-term target which wasn't on track to be met, Senator Davey said.
"Keep focused on 2050 - we're racing towards a target we currently can't achieve," she told AAP.
"We know that we need more options on the table to achieve it."
The coalition is pushing the government to consider nuclear power, which Mr Bowen has ruled out as too expensive.
The Nationals party room has not met this year with parliament set to return in February, but there had been no previous push for an earlier target, Senator Davey said.
Minister Chris Bowen said having no 2035 target would have implications for Australia's reputation. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Bowen questioned whether a failure to unveil a 2035 target meant the coalition wasn't committed to the Paris agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5C.
Parties are required to update contributions every five years, which means developing a new medium-term emissions reduction target for 2035, Australia's climate change department says.
"Will they join Libya, Yemen, and Iran as the only countries without a Paris accord commitment?" Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney.
"Think of the implications for our international reputation, our trading partners, if a Dutton government was to do that by not having a 2035 target? I mean, it's a joke."
Labor's 2035 target would be "ambitious and achievable", Mr Bowen said.
"There's no point setting a target which the country can't meet, nor is there any point in setting a target which isn't a step up in activity," he said.
He has written to the Climate Change Authority for advice on the target before making a recommendation to cabinet.
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