Tim Wilson has quit as Australia's Human Rights Commissioner so he can seek Liberal preselection for Andrew Robb's Victorian seat of Goldstein.

Key points: Tim Wilson resigns from Commission to protect its impartiality, seeks Liberal preselection

Tim Wilson resigns from Commission to protect its impartiality, seeks Liberal preselection While Commissioner, he attended some Liberal Party meetings, but maintains he did not improperly use his position

While Commissioner, he attended some Liberal Party meetings, but maintains he did not improperly use his position Biggest challenge as Commissioner was "starting conversations but not finishing them"

Mr Robb is retiring from politics at the next federal election.

Mr Wilson said he resigned from his highly paid role at the Commission to protect its impartiality.

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"While this has been a tough decision, it is the right one for the office that I hold and I think for this process going forward," the 35-year-old told the ABC.

Mr Wilson was asked about his political aspirations when he appeared before a Senate estimates committee last week.

He said that he had never been a political candidate for any party and would "not engage in hypotheticals".

Attorney-General George Brandis said when he approached Mr Wilson for the role of Human Rights Commissioner in late 2013, he was not "an ongoing political candidate".

Senator Brandis said he told Mr Wilson at the time that he should resign as a member of the Liberal Party if he took the appointment.

Mr Wilson told the ABC today that despite resigning from the party, he had attended and spoke at some Liberal Party meetings during his time as Commissioner.

He also attended some fundraisers, but said he had not improperly used his position and had also addressed other political party meetings.

Mr Wilson's attendance at such events also came to light in Senate estimates late last year.

In an answer to a question on notice from Labor senator Penny Wong on December 1, Senator Brandis confirmed Mr Wilson had attended a number of Liberal Party functions since taking on the job.

Senator Brandis said Mr Wilson went to the events in a "private capacity, as the guest of his partner".

Mr Wilson said his resignation would be effective on Friday, marking his second anniversary at the Commission.

"The big challenge of being Human Rights Commissioner is the frustration of being able to start so many different conversations, but not being able to finish them," he said.

"They're finished in the Federal Parliament."

When asked on his chances of pre-selection, given the push for diversity in the Liberal Party and his own position as an openly gay man, Mr Wilson said he was not going to play identity politics.

"People need to be judged on their merit, their experience and their capacity," he said.

'I am very proud of the work that has been done'

In a statement on his website, Mr Wilson said it had been an honour to serve as Human Rights Commissioner.

"I was appointed to this office to bring a fresh and important focus on the rights of the individual and freedom," he said.

"That is why I was dubbed the 'Freedom Commissioner', a title I have held with pride.

"I am very proud of the work that has been done.

"We have boosted the profile and importance of free speech and religious freedom as part of the nation's human rights discussion."

Mr Wilson said he has a connection to the electorate, which takes in some of Melbourne's bayside suburbs.

"I'm a born and bred Melbournian," he said. "I've lived in Melbourne all my life; I've been an active Liberal Party member for nearly two decades.

"I've lived in Goldstein. "I have served on the board of the local hospital. Much of my family lives in Goldstein."

In a statement, Senator Brandis said Mr Wilson had "single-handedly reshaped the human rights debate in Australia".

"He has restored balance to a debate which had previously been dominated by the priorities and prejudices of the left," he said.