Puffing pollies' smoke break goes viral

Images ridiculing Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann puffing on cigars have gone viral on the internet ahead of Mr Hockey's "tough love" first budget on Tuesday.

The Nine Network on Friday aired footage of Mr Hockey and Mr Cormann smoking cigars outside Canberra's Parliament House.

The Twittersphere has since been abuzz with commentary mocking the duo ahead of Tuesday's federal budget.

The Treasurer has previously warned Australians should expect a serve of tough love, with cuts expected in aged care, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the public service workforce and welfare.

One internet meme used the image with the caption: "There's nothing like the satisfying flavour of other people's dreams ... going up in smoke!"

Another user, King George Bludger, wrote:

"Dese cigars are great, Joe," Cormann says in the caption. Hockey replies: "They were rolled on the thighs of unemployed tax agents."

Shadow health minister Catherine King said people can judge the images for themselves.

"Smoking, including cigar smoking, is not a great thing to be doing and I don't think it's a great thing for our leaders to be participating in that," she told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.

"I'd be very happy to send through to both the Treasurer and the Finance Minister information from Cancer Australia and Quit," she said.

In response, Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews said Australia is not a nanny state.

"People smoke, people have a drink, people are at a barbecue somewhere around Australia as I am talking at the present time, enjoying themselves," he said.

"We don't live in a nanny state".