The Tasmanian Government has achieved its goal of removing abortion from the state's criminal code.

The Lower House has approved amendments to the law made in the Legislative Council, where MLCs voted nine to five to support the change after two days of debate.

Tasmania joins Victoria and the ACT in removing any reference to the medical procedure in criminal laws.

The Premier, Lara Giddings, says it is a historic achievement.

"It is a sign of showing respect to women, and women's rights and choices, and understanding that these are difficult decisions for women to make and they should not be made within the context of a criminal code action," she said.

The bill allows terminations at up to 16 weeks with the woman's consent, and after 16 weeks with the agreement of two doctors.

Also, doctors who oppose abortion will be compelled to give women a list of willing practitioners.

The vote was not without a last minute attempt to prolong the debate.

Independent Member for Windermere Ivan Dean argued some changes to the bill were ill-considered.

"A lot of these amendments were brought in on the run, as it were, and there has not been time for people who will be impacted on in relation to those amendments to have considered them," he argued.

The Leader of Government Business, Craig Farrell, told MLCs to bite the bullet.

"We could go on for months and years and years and take on new evidence, new opinion. We've got to a point where I think we need to make a decision," he said.

The vote showed that Shadow Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin was the only Liberal to support the move.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman gave the Liberals' 10 Lower House MPs a conscience vote on the bill, but they all voted against it in April.

MLCs who voted against the legislation were: Ivan Dean; Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage; Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor; Montgomery Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt; and Rumney MLC Tony Mulder.

Community division continues

There was community outrage earlier this year when school children were involved in anti-abortion protests outside the Tasmanian Parliament.

Anti-abortion campaigners are now warning some doctors may resign because of the changes.

Campaigner Jim Collins is worried about a provision in the new law that compels doctors who conscientiously object to abortion to give women a list of willing practitioners.

"There are certain doctors who will be questioning whether they can continue their medical career," he said.

Pro-abortion campaigner Georgie Ibbott disagrees.

"Sitting as it did in the criminal code was one of the fundamental causes of confusion around doctors."

She says the bill is a victory for women's rights.

The private member's bill is the only plank of the Government's social reform agenda to get up.

A move to legalise same-sex marriage was blocked by the Upper House, while a bid to allow voluntary euthanasia in Tasmania did not make it through the Lower House.