The Federal Government is poised to take the next step in its bid to introduce plainer, uglier packaging for cigarettes.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon will today release the draft legislation for the plan which, if successful, will be phased in from January next year.

She will also unveil a mock-up of the proposed packaging.

Ms Roxon told ABC TV's Lateline if the legislation is passed, health warnings and graphic pictures depicting the dangers of smoking will make up the majority of the "olive green" packaging.

"We've done a lot of research to ensure that we make the cigarette packs as unattractive as possible," she said.

"Apparently dark olive is the least attractive colour - olive green - for any smokers and particularly for young people.

"That'll form the base. There'll be graphic warnings on the front and back - 90 per cent of the back of the pack and about 75 per cent of the front of the pack and we're updating the graphic warnings as well."

Ms Roxon says brand names will have to be in a standard font and size.

"We know that tobacco companies spend millions and millions of dollars researching what their logos should look like, what colours they should use, if they emboss the packets or not," she said.

"We're taking all of that away because we want to make sure that every last bit of glamour that there might be in smoking is removed.

"We've drafted the legislation to make it clear that every tobacco product will be covered by this. We've [also] taken very clear steps to restrict that they can't put the logo on the cigarette itself."

Ms Roxon says she hopes the move will stop new people from being attracted to smoking.

"This is about taking away the last opportunity that tobacco companies have in Australia, to try to market their products by making them look luxurious, or pretending that they might be light and better for your health," she said.

"Our Government's determined to do all we can to stop new people being attracted to smoking and we think this is an important step to achieve that aim."

Ms Roxon says if the laws are passed, Australia will become the first country in the world to ban logos and brand names from cigarette packaging.

Ready to fight

The tobacco industry has already spent millions fighting plain packaging, and last year gave $5 million to the Alliance of Australian Retailers to fund this advertising campaign.

Their latest campaign targets smokers, urging them to oppose increased taxes and plain packaging. Lobbying politicians is also part of their strategy.

British American Tobacco Australia said they will not be commenting until they see the draft legislation.

Ms Roxon says she expects big tobacco to fight the legislation.

"The tobacco companies will have the right to challenge, they can use the laws the same way other people can and I expect that they will," she said.

"I know big tobacco wants to fight this, but there's a reason they want to: because they know that their packaging helps sell their products. They know that if they sell more products, more people get addicted and they have higher profits.

"When you still have 15,000 Australians dying every year because of tobacco-related illnesses caused from smoking, this is a fight it's worth us having.

"I mean, I don't think that there is anyone in this country who believes that smoking is good for you. I've never met a smoker who wants or hopes that their child will be a smoker.

"We can actually do something that will make a difference."

Ms Roxon says she hopes she will not have to fight Opposition Leader Tony Abbott over the legislation.

"I'm surprised that Mr Abbott hasn't yet said he will agree to this. I'm fearful that that means maybe Mr Abbott will have other interests in mind in deciding whether to support this measure or not," she said.

"But I hope he'll join with us. We're going to be world leaders. He's a former health minister and he knows that tobacco is a killer product."