The bill was brought on by the government earlier this month to make changes to several laws following same-sex marriage legislation.

This was heavily amended in House of Assembly against the government’s wishes to allow for parent to choose if gender was listed on birth certificates and to remove a surgical requirement if somebody wanted to change their listed gender.

Transgender lobby group Transforming Tasmania said the government was being deliberately obstructive.

"Because of its cowardice and prejudice, the government would rather remain non-compliant with federal law regarding transgender-forced divorce than risk the passage of the other urgent transgender reforms this bill deals with,” spokesperson Martine Delaney said.

She said Legislative Council members had been refused access to the government’s law drafters this week.

Premier Will Hodgman had since given a written commitment to allow parliamentarians access to them.

Several members said they would move amendments to the bill.

Hobart independent MLC Rob Valentine said there were questions about why the bill should have been left so late but it was important to ensure the legislation was right.

He pleaded with the public to not talk about the issue in a vile manner.

"Imagine if it was your child," he said.

Rosevears independent MLC Kerry Finch addressed transgender people in the public gallery.

"We're on the journey with you, we just want to get it right," he said.

McIntyre independent MLC Tanya Rattray and Launceston independent MLC Rosemary Armitage said they couldn’t support the bill as it was.

Mersey independent MLC Mike Gaffney said there were some things he could not have voted for in the bill because he did not feel he had enough information.

“My job here is for good legislation and to review what’s in front of us,” he said.

“I would not be doing my job if I passed a bill that I thought was going to be undone. That would put your cause back even further.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it was heartbreaking to see gender-diverse people and their families in both houses see the bill delayed. “Their hopes have been raised and smashed,” she said.