Gender made optional on birth certificates - but move slammed as 'deeply flawed'

Gender has been made optional on birth certificates in one part of Australia after landmark legislation was passed today.

Parents in Tasmania will no longer have to state their child's sex.

And 16-year-olds in the state will now be able to change their registered gender via a statutory declaration without their parents' permission.

Transgender people will no longer have to have sexual reassignment surgery in order to have their new gender recognised.

But Leonie Hiscutt, of the Liberal Party, labelled the legislation as "deeply flawed".

"(We) have strong concerns about the unintended legal consequences of the amendments," the 60-year-old said.

The reforms were passed, though, by the casting vote of Liberal Sue Hickey, who voted against the view of her own party.

The transgender community has welcomed the landmark ruling (Stefan Boness/Ipon/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock)

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"This is not a win for any political party, rather it grants dignity to the transgender community," Ms Hickey said.

Tasmania is the first Australian state to make gender optional on birth certificates.

Politicians had discussed the bill for three days. It was first proposed by Australian Labor Party and the Australian Greens last year.

But Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania, said: "This legislation has ignored the views of Tasmanians and eminent legal stakeholders who have raised concerns and pointed out that there has been no opportunity to undertake a full review of what is being proposed and how it impacts on other statutes.

"It is highly likely the parliament will need to fix up problems with the legislation."

Tasmania has become the first Australian jurisdiction to make gender optional on birth certificates (Australian Goverment)

The Australian Christian Lobby has said the removal of gender on birth certificates was ignoring biological truths.

It comes after it emerged primary school children in the UK will now be taught "all genders" can have periods in a bid to be more inclusive to transgender children.

Advice on menstruation will be issued to boys and girls after Brighton and Hove City Council passed a motion.

Pupils in the city will be taught that periods are not exclusive to any one gender in sexual education classes.