AUSTRALIA is getting new rules on gender, so some people may be classified as indeterminate, unspecified or intersex.

The old categories of male and female will remain.

But under new national guidelines, individuals will be given the option of selecting M (male), F (female) or X (Indeterminate/Intersex/Unspecified) for personal records held by government departments and agencies from July 1.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the change will bring a practical improvement to the everyday lives of transgender, intersex and gender diverse people.

"Transgender and intersex people in Australia face many issues trying to ensure the gender status on their personal records matches the gender they live and how they are recognised by the community," he said on a statement on Thursday.

Increased consistency in the way the government collects and records gender is expected to strengthen Australia's identity security system, the integrity of agency records and the accuracy of individual personal records.