Transgender Australians can change the sex on their birth certificates from TODAY
- First Australian jurisdiction to make gender optional on birth certificates
- Laws allows 16-year-olds to change gender without their parents' permission
- Requirement for transgender people to have sex reassignment surgery removed
Transgender and gender diverse Tasmanians can now change the gender on their birth certificate without needing surgery, or remove it completely.
The controversial reforms were passed in the state parliament in April - making Tasmania the nation's first jurisdiction in which gender on a birth certificate is optional.
The laws, which came into force on Thursday, also removed the requirement for transgender people to have sexual reassignment surgery in order to have a new gender recognised.
The controversial reforms were passed by the state's lower house Wednesday afternoon (stock image)
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They bring Tasmania in line with the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Victorian parliament also voted in favour of such a change in June.
Tasmanian's aged 16 years or older can apply to change their registered gender without parental approval.
The Liberal state government had opposed the changes, but the legislation passed the lower house on the casting vote of Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey, who crossed the floor.
Tasmania has become the first Australian jurisdiction to make gender optional on birth certificates after landmark legislation passed today (file image)
Transgender and gender diverse advocates plan to mark the laws coming into effect with cupcakes and champagne at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Hobart.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last year labelled the push to remove gender from birth certificates as 'ridiculous'.
The Australian Christian Lobby has said the removal of gender on birth certificates was ignoring biological truths.
