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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said it was an election priority for the industry, particularly in regional areas like Braddon, a marginal seat key to winning government at the May poll.

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Mr Martin said travellers had to pay more to bring a car to Tasmania than was intended when the equalisation scheme came in.

"We're asking for another six-month trial to measure the return on investment," he said.

Mr Martin said when the equalisation rebate got temporarily raised to allow cars to travel free as part of the tourism COVID recovery plan, it was a raging success.

"The principle still applies that the BSPVES is not worth what it once was, and this is about putting it back to the level it should be at," Mr Martin said.

"We're not asking for any more than the scheme was designed to do.

"It's just that the government didn't keep it up with inflation for years.

"For many years, we've essentially been shortchanged.

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"The money the government would put into this six-month trial is $10 million, which is no more than was saved last year from the scheme when the borders with Victoria were closed.

"We're suggesting the money gets put into the scheme to run a trial over the back half of the year.

"The critical point is that it's free to take your car and what happens above deck is your business depending on whether you book last minute on a busy sailing and want a cabin. Then you will pay a bit more compared to a day sailing sitting up.

"The key principle is that it offers equity for Tasmanians, and it should not cost any more to take a car across Bass Strait than to drive the same distance between Melbourne and Albury.

A federal Labor spokesperson said Labor backed the $6 m subsidy to the equalisation scheme last year to help re-establish the interstate tourism market and saw merit in a limited extension of that lifeline but the federal government declined to support it.

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However, Labor's spokesperson said a year on, and with Spirit vehicle bookings "now in hot demand, any ongoing change to the BSPVES would need to be subject to a thorough review and normal policy process."

Federal Assistant Minister for Industry Development Liberal Senator for Tasmania Jonno Duniam said federal funding for the temporary higher rebate last year was "absolutely instrumental in supporting the Tasmanian tourism industry through the most difficult points in the COVID pandemic."

Senator Duniam said the Liberals would continue to be a strong supporter of Tasmanian businesses.

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