PRO-smoking activists will be handing out free cigarettes in Brisbane's CBD this weekend. But the exercise could be illegal, and anyone who lights up could be slugged with an on-the-spot fine.

Organised by MyChoice Australia, Australian Libertarian Society and Oz and NZ Students For Liberty, National Thank You Smokers Day on Saturday will see free cigarettes handed out at square in Brisbane's George St at noon.

The event - which was being promoted on Facebook - said a small group of "smoker-friendly people" will be saying thank you by giving out free cigarettes.

"Come by and ask for a smoke," organisers said.

But the event has been branded an illegal stunt by Cancer Council Queensland, which said it was against the law to supply smoking products for promotional purposes.

A spokeswoman said it demonstrated a disregard of the health and wellbeing of the community and the future health of young people.

"We will be calling on relevant authorities to take appropriate action against campaigners who participate in the promotion and unlawful supply of smoking products," she said.

Anyone caught smoking at nearby Queen Street Mall will cop a $110 fine under local law changes which came into effect in May, Brisbane City Council warns on its website.

The event comes after Smokers' Rights Party's Rachel Connor put forward a pro-choice case for smoking at a GetUp! senate candidate forum at St Lucia on Tuesday.

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Speaking after the forum, the 20-year-old non-smoker from Taringa in Brisbane's inner west said she wanted to stand up for civil liberties and nobody else was standing up for smokers.

"There're already parties standing up for drug law reform, but no one really wants to stand up for smokers," she said.

"If you do believe in civil liberties, then it's important to stand up for minorities even when they're unpopular.

"Smokers currently play 20-times more in excise than they cost in public health system."

Mrs Connor said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had already signalled he would increase the excise on cigarettes and she called for a scrapping of Julia Gillard's plain packaging legislation.

The GetUp! forum on Tuesday heard the views of 13 senate candidates from 12 parties including The Pirate Party's Melanie Thomas, Independent Greg Rudd and Dee Kabel of the Stop CSG Party.

Those who were invited but did not attend included Matthew Canavan (LNP) James Blundell (Katter's Australian Party), Glenn Lazarus (Palmer United Party) and Aidan McLindon (Family First).

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Originally published as Cancer? Bah, it's freedom that counts