The government has accused Tony Abbott of being in bed with big tobacco after the fitness fanatic and former health minister backed away from supporting plain packaging for cigarettes.

After saying begrudgingly a year ago he supported plain cigarette packets with very graphic warnings, the Opposition Leader said yesterday he was unconvinced the changes would help reduce smoking.

The Nationals declared it would not support the move to plain packaging.

The Liberal Party accepts donations from tobacco companies, and the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, implied this was behind Mr Abbott's reluctance.

His position puts the Coalition at odds with the NSW and Victorian Liberal governments, which support plain packaging.

Abbott wavers, and eyes light up in tobacco-land