Acting chairman Paul Ockelford said an international study on mortality from smoking estimated that worldwide, long-term smokers who died from a smoking-related illness, died an average of 15 years early.
"What is often forgotten is the impact these deaths have on the people left behind. If you continue to smoke, your grandchildren might never get to know you, and you'll miss seeing them grow up," Dr Ockelford said.
"People work hard all their lives and deserve a long retirement. Smoking could rob you of that retirement, and mean you don't get to make the contribution to society or to your culture that you would have."
There was a lot of help available for people who wanted to stop smoking -- including low-cost nicotine replacement therapy, Dr Ockelfordsaid.
"You can get it through the Quitline...as well as from many GPs, midwives, dentists, optometrists, nurse practitioners, other community health workers and online."