'No equality': Tasmanian businesses fear the impact of failing to support visa workers

But only one of them will be paid under the government's JobKeeper scheme, while the other goes without any support.

For 18 months, Dr Clougher has employed a dentist from India on a 489 Skilled Regional visa.

He described her as "exceptionally skilled", and was pleased that his practice could help her prepare for rigorous qualification exams.

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Dr Clougher said it was unfair that one staff member was eligible for support, while the other wasn't.

"We'd dearly love to reinstate her when restrictions are lifted, but she's on no pay at the moment," he said.

"We're concerned about her wellbeing.

"She doesn't have the same equality."

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Making the situation more difficult is the fact that, for cultural reasons, she cannot accept pay without doing work, meaning even if Dr Clougher offered a retainer, she was likely to refuse it. She would be able to accept support from the government, however.

"Without that support from the government, we can't offer her support," he said.

"We have no way of ensuring her wellbeing, other than providing moral support."

On Wednesday evening, the government rejected a push to include temporary visa workers and short-term casuals under the $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper subsidy for businesses.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive officer Luke Martin said the decision was effectively passing the buck to individual businesses to continue paying their visa workers, otherwise they would be trapped in Australia with no income.

He said it was unreasonable to expect visa workers to simply move to another location and find seasonal work, or go back to their country of origin, given the global travel restrictions.

"These businesses are under enormous pressure and stress," Mr Martin said.

"The options being put forward - like fruit harvesting - don't work in reality. Cleaners can't suddenly pick that up, especially when we're telling people not to travel around the state.

"Governments need to come up with a response to this. We're getting messages from all sides of politics in furious agreement."

In response to calls to include temporary visa workers in the JobKeeper scheme, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "lines needed to be drawn somewhere".

The Greens moved a failed amendment to have the workers included.

Tasmanian senator Nick McKim said these workers had been paying taxes in Australia and should be entitled to income support.

"Tasmania has a significant number of foreign workers particularly in tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors," he said.

"Some business owners are doing their best to look after temporary visa holders with no income, but that should be the government's job."