we have been waiting for two years to sell, have managed it, but how difficult is it likly to be to find employment in engineering sector as cnc operator /programmer?

It may be helpful to give an idea of where in Aus you are hoping to move to!

Sorry mate absolutely no chance...no one is hiring here.

we are moving to the Brisbane area? so after all this wait it might all go wrong

We are still going to Brisbane hopefully about june time.Waited 2yrs to sell house so not giving up now.

Australia is certainly in the midst of recession with businesses & mines etc laying people off regularly. Finding a job when you are new to the country, with no Aus experience, references or contacts is very likely to be very difficult & take quite some time.
If you have employment in the UK, validate your visa & wait it out if you can.
Sorry to be negative but unless one of you has guaranteed employment, now is a very tricky time to move.