ANIMAL rights group PETA is calling on the Queensland Government to sue the meat and dairy industries.

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg recently said he would consider suing tobacco companies to address "the costs of smoking on the health sector".

In response, PETA campaign director Jason Baker wrote to Mr Springborg and said he should "target drumsticks as well as cancer sticks".

"We would like to suggest that you also consider suing the meat and dairy industries since the diseases that consumption of products derived from animals is linked to add up to a mountain of medical expenses," Mr Baker wrote.

He linked eating meat to cancer and said vegetarians were "less likely to rack up huge medical bills".

Mr Springborg told The Weekly Times Mr Baker's comments were extreme and absurd.

AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton said meat could not be compared to tobacco.

"Tobacco used as the manufacturers recommend will kill half the people that use it," he said.