Nurses’ unions are complaining that thousands of nursing graduates are unable to find work in Australian hospitals. They say that each year about 8,000 Australian students graduate with a nursing qualification, but that there are around 3,000 nurses who cannot find work. In contrast, between 2011 and 2012, 3,095 foreign nurses were granted working visas in Australia, according to a report in the ABC.

"It can't be a coincidence that at the same time as thousands of new nurse graduates across the country are unable to get jobs, the same amount of people are getting jobs, coming in as temporary skilled migrants on 457 visas," Annie Butler, acting federal secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said speaking to the ABC.

However, Michael Roff, chief executive of the Australian Hospitals Association, says that overseas nurses are essential for filling more highly specialised jobs, ones that fresh graduate cannot perform.

"From the private hospital perspective, 457 visas are principally used to fill vacancies that require experienced nurses with an advanced level of skill, particularly in areas like intensive care, coronary care and operating theatres," he said.

The 457 visa skilled migration program is currently under review and the nurses’ union fears that restrictions on foreign nurses will be watered down, but Mr Roff argues that there is actually to much red tape in the visa program.

"In fact its harder for a hospital to employ someone on a 457 visa because nursing is one of two professions that have to be market tested," he said.

"So before you apply for a visa you have to provide evidence that you have advertised a position and you have to provide evidence about the number of people you have interviewed and the number of applicants."

According to Roff, the ‘bottleneck' in nursing is temporary as many nurses are now in their 50s and getting close to retirement. There are currently more than 300,000 nurses working in Australian hospitals. Unions and employers agree that demand for nursing will grow as the Australian population ages. Health Workforce Australia estimates that by 2025 there will be a shortage of more than 109,000 nurses across the country.