Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said on Tuesday an approach had been made in February by the NSW government to quarantine international students on the Apple Isle for 14 days, which was rejected.

The Tasmanian government said it needed to focus on helping its own international students and seasonal workers return before assisting NSW.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was keen to strike a deal to salvage the state's lucrative $14 billion education sector after National Cabinet failed to agree on a way to bring back the students.

But he said he will continue to work with his state counterparts.

"I remain committed to finding a way to return this vital industry to NSW and will continue to work constructively with colleagues such as Mr Gutwein to find a solution," Mr Perrottet said in a statement on Wednesday.

He also told the ABC he believed the caps on international arrivals should be altered to include some international students.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, meanwhile, told reporters the state's economic growth was dependent on staying open.

But with inbound flights remaining limited, Ms Berejiklian said returning international students would never be prioritised over returning Australians.

Federal biosecurity powers were earlier this month renewed for another three months until mid-June, curtailing international arrivals.

"I'm not suggesting for a second that others jump the queue," she said.

"If every state did their bit welcoming home Australians, we'd finish that task sooner and be able to move forward with the other categories.

"We're not considering another location at this stage but thinking about creative ways we can safely manage Australians coming home but also safely manage vital skilled workers and also international students."

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues across Australia, more than 40,000 of the country's residents remain overseas and are trying to return.

NSW is quarantining more than 3000 people a week, Queensland and Western Australia have 1000 arrivals and South Australia 530. Howard Springs near Darwin currently houses 850 people per fortnight.

Victoria has not yet resumed its hotel quarantine program.

NSW Labor's Ryan Park urged the government to do everything it could to bring citizens home and also enable the return of international students.

Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord also said in a statement on Tuesday that returning international students were critical to NSW's long-term recovery.

"Once you lose an international student to Canada or the US or Europe, you don't lose them for one year. You lose them for four to six years," he said.

NSW has gone 52 days without a locally acquired COVID-19 case.

Australian Associated Press