The smoking habits, attitudes and associated actions of Australian doctors and their organizations are reviewed historically in the light of the medical profession's responsibilities in this area of public health. The proportion of Australian doctors who smoke has fallen to very low levels by community standards; doctors virtually are in total agreement about the disease effects of smoking; and they have taken many extraordinary actions over recent decades to encourage the necessary public-health measures. In spite of a major reduction over all in smoking in recent years, the present proportion of Australians who smoke demands the medical profession's continuing effort to discourage smoking in the community.