The Cancer Council has urged bipartisan support for measures to cut the cancer rate, including plain packaging of cigarettes.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Thursday jointly launched the council's Australia's Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser at Parliament House in Canberra.
The council's national president Hendy Cowan told the gathering bipartisan support was needed to tackle the nation's single biggest cause of death.
He later launched a video detailing the work of the council and showing an example of the government's proposed plain packaged cigarettes as part of the council's preventative health strategy.
Ms Gillard told the gathering smoking rates had now dropped to 15 per cent, but more needed to be done and plain packaging would make "a measurable difference".
Mr Abbott's shadow cabinet has yet to consider the policy, but a number of coalition MPs have publicly supported plain packaging - delivering the government the numbers it needs to get the legislation passed.
The opposition leader told the function everyone should "do what we can to fight cancer".
But he said while government funding and policies were important "it's not what government does for us but what we do for ourselves" that makes a difference.
Since it was launched in 1994, the event has raised $90 million for cancer research, prevention and support.
While Ms Gillard - usually a heavy coffee drinker - sipped on a cup of weak black tea, Mr Abbott had a milky tea.
Two dozen MPs from all sides of politics attended the event.
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