QUEENSLAND'S Health Minister says he wants to rid the Sunshine State of tanning salons.

Lawrence Springborg's call comes as the NSW Government pushes ahead with legislation to have solariums banned by the end of 2014.

Mr Springborg says solariums are a public health concern and increase the risk of skin cancer but the Government has to be careful how it goes about abolishing them.

The easiest way would be to refuse to approve any new solarium businesses but the minister isn't ruling out banning existing operations.

"I would certainly like to see a situation where we had no more solariums in Queensland."

Originally published as Minister darkens solariums' future