Queensland has passed some of the toughest smoking laws in the country.

From September 1, lighting up will be outlawed at or near childcare facilities, bus stops and taxi ranks, public pools, children's sporting venues, skate parks and outdoor malls.

The new laws also ban the sale of tobacco products from pop-up retail outlets, such as at music festivals.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said a ban on smoking in and around aged care facilities — except in designated areas — was an Australian first.

"Currently there is no legislative restriction in aged care residents smoking in their rooms and this potentially poses risks to the hardworking and staff who work in those facilities," he said.

"I think they will welcome these changes."

Mr Dick also released figures from a Queensland Health survey which found that as at the end of 2015, only 12 per cent of Queensland adults were smoking daily — a 2 per cent drop — and that there were 50, 000 fewer smokers than in 2014.

He said while the numbers were promising, more than 3,700 Queenslanders still died each year as a result of smoking.

"I don't consider banning a product a viable option at this time, but tobacco legislation such as smoke-free places is an integral part of effective tobacco control," he said.

Opposition health spokesman Mark McArdle said it was going to become more difficult to sell anti-smoking measures because most of the remaining smokers were hardcore.

But he said more smoke-free public areas would save lives.

"Tonight is the night where we do push the boundaries back that much further to protect ourselves, our family, our children, and our grandchildren," he said.

"Perhaps the day will come when there won't be cigarette smoke in the state."

Heart Foundation spokeswoman Alison Durham said the bans would reduce the risk of passive smoking in public places.

"Passive smoking actually causes 10 per cent of smoking deaths that we're aware of - it's quite a significant impact," she said.

"But of course active smoking is the most dangerous, but we need to help people both quit and not be exposed in public places."