Hanson backs reduced backpacker tax rate

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has signalled she will vote against the federal government's controversial backpacker tax plan.

Senator Hanson on Tuesday said she supported cutting the rate to 10.5 per cent, as put forward by crossbencher Jacqui Lambie and backed by Labor.

If the government's proposal of 19 per cent fails in parliament, the rate will automatically default to 32.5 per cent.

Senator Hanson has met with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten about the issue and said there was no guarantee backpackers would come to Australia if the rate was at 19 per cent.

"What I don't want to do is stop backpackers coming out here to Australia because farmers rely on them," she told ABC radio.

Farmers would dearly love to have Australian workers but they were not reliable, she said.

Labor, One Nation and the Greens last week tried to force debate in the Senate on the legislation after it was left off the agenda.

The government has just two sitting weeks left in 2016 to get it through the upper house.