A King Island farmer has been ordered to pay $290,000 to an English backpacker who was left quadriplegic by a quad bike crash on his property.
Tasmania's Workers' Rehabilitation and Compensation Tribunal has ordered farmer David Bowden make the payment to the mother of backpacker Holly Raper.
Ms Raper was 21 when she rolled the bike herding cows in 2011 and suffered a 70 per cent "whole of person impairment".
She is now cared for by mother Elaine Raper and medical staff after returning to her Lancashire home last year.
The tribunal heard Ms Raper had suffered a "catastrophic" brain injury, was barely conscious and unable to communicate.
"Neurologically, unfortunately she remains at best at a low-level minimally conscious state but most of the time she only shows reflex responses compatible with a vegetative state," doctors told the tribunal.
"Sadly, the prognosis for further significant neurological recovery is extremely poor."
Mr Bowden was fined $3000 and a farm manager $1200 over the accident in September.
Ms Raper, a budding photographer, had little experience on a quad bike and was not wearing a helmet, the Devonport Magistrates Court heard then.
Law firm Slater & Gordon pursued the case on behalf of Ms Raper.
Mr Bowden has been ordered to pay $289,193 within seven days.
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