QUEENSLAND councils plan to ban the sale of cans of spray paint to minors, and fine litterbug motorists $150 on the spot.

The proposals will be considered by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) at its four-day annual conference, which begins today in Cairns.

If passed and accepted by the State Government, the ban and fines would bring Queensland into line with other states.

South Australia introduced laws last year against selling spray paint to minors, to try to combat graffiti. Similar legislation came into effect today in NSW, where retailers now face a maximum fine of $1100 for selling spray paint to people under 18.

In a motion to be moved at the LGAQ conference by the shires of Logan and Maroochy, retailers would have to store spray paint under the counter or in a secure area, so it could not be bought off the shelf.

Council inspectors would have the right to enter and photograph shops selling spray paint, and to remove graffiti visible from a public place.

The introduction of authorised street art and graffiti removal and prevention programs had helped combat graffiti, the motion said.

If the motion succeeded, the LGAQ would call on the State Government to amend the criminal code to make the sale of spray paint to minors illegal.

The LGAQ said there was strong support for the motion, and urged member councils to support it.

Other motions to go before this week's conference included $150 on-the-spot fines for motorists caught throwing cigarette butts or other litter from their cars.

Such fines would bring Queensland into line with states such as Victoria.

People found discarding lit cigarette butts in Victoria can be fined $200.

Australia's former ambassador to the United Nations and incoming Tasmanian governor Richard Butler was due to address the LGAQ conference in a keynote speech tomorrow morning.

The conference began today and runs until Thursday.