Laws recognising same-sex marriages and civil unions registered in other states or countries have been approved in Tasmania's Lower House of Parliament.
ABC reports only three of the 25 Members of the House of Assembly voted against the amendment to the Relationships Act.
Attorney-General Lara Giddings says the changes will remove discrimination for same-sex couples in registered relationships.
"This is really a small step, but a significant and important step for those people who have registered or been through a civil union process elsewhere around the world and want us to recognise that relationship as indeed being in existence."
Gay rights campaigner Rodney Croome says it allows for greater respect for personal unions from interstate and overseas.
The bill will now go before the Legislative Council for approval.
