Reports have confirmed that the Australian authorities have plans to make it much easier than before for New Zealand doctors to work wherever they like across the country, a move which is predicted to worsen the country's medical workforce crisis.

Already, New Zealand is very short of doctors in various specialization areas, and an easing of the restrictions that bind gaining a work permit in Australia, starting April, is likely to hike the attraction on the back of the higher salaries offered.

Full time GPs in NZ draw earnings of about $150,000, while the same doctors can earn anywhere from $200,000 to more than $400,000 in Australia.

"It's a threat to the whole medical profession in New Zealand. We would have major anxieties at the very time when we are trying to address our own workforce crisis, to suddenly have our near neighbours suck us dry potentially", said Association of Salaried Medical Specialists president Jeff Brown.

The shortage of doctors in NZ is particularly hitting rural areas and provincial centers, as they are short of GPs and specialists. Also, hospitals across main cities need to have more resident doctors and specialists.