Trends in smoking among Australian adults as based upon surveys with a standard method in 1974, 1976, 1980, 1983 and 1986 are presented. The percentage of male cigarette smokers fell from 42.2% in 1974 to 31.9% in 1986 and the percentage of female smokers was 29.5% in 1974 and 28.8% in 1986. Over the period of observation, the percentage of past smokers of both sexes climbed steadily and, in 1986, reached 28.1% of men and 16.8% of women.