Louise Crawford, newly elected co-convener of the Labor Environment Action Network (Lean), told Guardian Australia in her first interview that the government must not shy away from ambition as it prepares to announce Australia's 2035 target next week. The Climate Change Authority has advised a range between 65% and 75%, calling it "ambitious but achievable."

The Business Council of Australia has cautioned against the upper end of that range, estimating that a cut of 70% or more would require $530 billion in new capital investment. But Crawford countered that "there is a cost to not being ambitious," adding that Lean's position is clear: "the target should start with a seven."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to promote the target later this month at the UN General Assembly leaders' summit. Crawford said the figure would be an important signal to the international community:

"The government is in the messy phase of restructuring the economy and energy system, and we know how difficult that is. But in a moment when global momentum on climate is faltering, Australia can play a key leadership role."

Environmental law reform back on the agenda

Crawford succeeds Felicity Wade, who led Lean for 12 years and spearheaded its long campaign for stronger environmental protections. Wade's push for reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act — including the creation of a new environmental protection agency — collapsed before the last election when Albanese shelved the plans, a move that left campaigners deeply frustrated.

The reforms have since been revived. Environment Minister Murray Watt has pledged to introduce new legislation before the year's end. Speaking at the Smart Energy Queensland conference, Watt said the laws would establish "no-go" zones for development under a regional planning system. Other elements, however, remain unsettled — including the design of national standards, the EPA's powers, and whether climate impacts will factor into project approvals.

Watt signaled he was "leaning towards" adopting the recommendations of Prof Graeme Samuel's review, which rejected a climate trigger but proposed that project proponents disclose their full emissions profiles.

Lean's priorities under new leadership

Crawford said Lean will focus its advocacy on three fronts: keeping ministerial decision-making powers over matters of national significance, securing a robust set of national environmental standards, and eliminating exemptions — including those allowing native forest logging under regional forestry agreements.

While she acknowledged climate impacts should not be the primary focus of the EPBC Act, she supported the government's position that the safeguard mechanism is the appropriate tool for managing industrial pollution.

Still, she stressed that the upcoming reforms mark a historic moment:

"This is a once-in-a-generation chance to rewrite John Howard-era nature laws. And we know biodiversity is in just as much crisis as climate."