457 Visa re-enter on holiday visa?

My partner is a British citizen on a 457 visa, in December his Visa will be finished, we plan to visit NZ for a month then return to Australia for a week before going to the UK. Because he wont have the 457 Visa will he be able to enter Australia on a holiday Visa? It says he can get a 90 day visa waiver in 12 months but since he has been here on a 457 will it make a difference!