Louis Sartor watched the debate play out from his home in Griffith, miles away from Canberra’s debates and where the consequences of any decision would actually be felt.

About 40 per cent of the employees at Mr Sartor’s juicing plant AusGrown are backpackers.

Had the government not reached a decision the backpacker tax would have reverted to 32.5 per cent from January, 1 2017 – the consequences of which for Griffith’s farmers and processors would have been ‘devastating’.

“We were considering other alternatives, but we hadn’t come up with any options yet,” Mr Sartor said on Friday.

“This was a great relief.

“We were sitting down and waiting for a result and it was worrying because we were hearing from a lot of backpackers if the tax wasn’t reduced they would have to consider other options like boycotting Australia.”

News the Greens would support the Coalition’s 15 per cent tax rate stunned Mr Sartor and brought an end to 18 months of uncertainty on parliament’s last day of sitting for the year.

“Ironically it was the Greens who got it across the line, they were never seen to be the farmer’s friend but now I am thinking we have underestimated the power of the minority to get some common sense across the line,” Mr Sartor said.

Backpackers have long been the backbone of many industries in Griffith who rely on them as a source of seasonal labour.

“We can’t offer constant work to people and it is usually at very short notice,” Mr Sator said.

“The beauty about them is they are casual and you don’t have to employ them full time.

“We’re not running down anyone else in terms of employment they just fit in that niche perfectly.

“This will give them more confidence to come here to know they can secure worthwhile employment.

On top of that there is the experience of meeting and working with people from all corners of the globe.

“It makes for an interesting day every day,” he said.