Skilled migration is certainly cheaper if her occupation is on the lists and her experience is counted.
If you have to go the Partner Visa path, I would suggest a Visitor Visa (needs not to have "No further Stay" condition attached) then apply for the Onshore Partner Visa (820). once the Visitor Visa expires she will be on a Bridging Visa A with full work rights - She can get Medicare as soon as the 820 visa is applied for.
Current processing times are about 1 year, so you would not want an offshore application for Partner Visa. As of to day both onshore and offshore Partner Visa fees are $6,865 but there are other costs.