Lisa Clutterham, candidate for Labor preselection in former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's seat of Lalor, has told Jon Faine she has no connection with Melbourne and has been a Labor member for less than a month.

The Labor preselection contest for former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Melbourne seat of Lalor has a new contender who has never lived in Melbourne and has been a party member for less than a month.

Diplomat Lisa Clutterham, who works for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Port Moresby, was approached by Kevin Rudd's new Minister for Trade Richard Marles to run for preselection in the Western suburbs electorate.

"I don't have a connection with Melbourne," says Lisa Clutterham.

She says her partner has family in the electorate and visited Werribee on Christmas holidays as a child.

Lisa Clutterham says she has took the 'incredible opportunity to nominate' as she wishes to pursue a career in politics.

She says she has been a member of the Labor party since mid June.

Lisa Clutterham speaks to Jon Faine on 774 ABC Melbourne Mornings.