These hotter and drier conditions will have a major affect on bushfires, increasing the likelihood of high fire danger, while Australia's coasts could become "extremely vulnerable" to flooding.

An increase of 0.9 degrees in Australia means that the number of hot days has doubled in the last 50 years, while heatwaves are longer and hotter.

"There is higher expectation than ever before and that means a step up from where we are now," she said.

"This is likely the first time in recent history that Australia has come under such sustained criticism from other countries over its domestic policies," chief councillor Tim Flannery said. "We risk becoming a pariah if we don't join the rest of the world in doing our fair share to tackle climate change."

The Abbott government is expected to submit its reduction target by the end of July to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change before the UN climate conference in Paris at the end of the year.

Asked about the issue on Monday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his government "doesn't get enough credit" for the emissions reduction work it has achieved so far.

"We'll take a very strong and credible position to Paris," he said.

"It will build on the strong and credible work in emissions reduction that's already been achieved here in Australia.