Backpacker tax fears easing in Tas: govt

Tasmania's agriculture industry was among the hardest hit by a proposed hike in the nation's backpacker tax, but the state Liberal government says fears have been allayed.

When the federal government slated its plan for a 32.5 per cent impost on travelling workers, Fruit Growers Tasmania said there was an immediate impact with produce going to rot amid a lack of pickers, but the subsequent agreed 15 per cent has got the industry back on track.

"Early indications from Fruit Growers Tasmania are that local workers, migrant families, Pacific seasonal workers and international students have already come forward to help our harvesting industries and that backpackers are re-engaging," Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said on Wednesday.