Jockeying is already well underway for Mr Robb's portfolio too, with Environment Minister Greg Hunt and International Development Minister Steve Ciobo expected to be among those in the running for the promotion. Georgina Downer during one of her appearances on The Bolt Report. Mr Robb surprised colleagues by announcing his retirement on Wednesday, although he is expected to stay in cabinet until the next election. The 64-year-old, who plans to go back into the private sector, says there will be a "very strong field" to replace him in his safe blue ribbon Liberal seat. "I do feel they must be chosen on merit and I have no doubt the party members will do that," he said. "But I would hope there will be a strong female candidate in the field."

Asked if that was an endorsement of Ms Downer, he said: "Georgina Downer I think would be an outstanding member. But at this stage it's too early to see even if she's going to nominate." Trade Minister Andrew Robb addresses the media during a doorstop interview at the Press Gallery in Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Robb said Mr Wilson would also be an "excellent candidate". Ms Downer is a lawyer turned diplomat who served in Australia's embassy in Japan for four years. The mother of two has a Masters in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne. She is fluent in Japanese and French. Georgina Downer, daughter of Alexander Downer, was eliminated after the first round of voting. Credit:Twitter

A member of the Victorian Liberal Party's administrative committee, she also made regular appearances on The Bolt Report, conservative commentator Andrew Bolt's now cancelled weekend show. If she wins pre-selection she is likely to become the fourth generation of her family to enter Parliament. Her grandfather Alick Downer was also a cabinet minister and great grandfather John Downer was a senator and South Australian premier. She recently wrote about the need to get more women into Parliament. "More women in politics means a more representative democracy and sends the message that Australian society is inclusive of women," she wrote for Fairfax Media last year. She admitted the Liberal Party currently fares worse than Labor on gender representation but rejects the need for a Labor-style quota system. She said the main problem is women don't put their hands up for pre-selection.

She also noted women are not as attracted as men to the "combative environment" of Parliament and advocated for more family friendly work practices in politics. She also called for better mentoring among female politicians. Mr Robb said he hopes to make major progress on trade deals with India and Indonesia, as well as a wide-ranging economic deal with Singapore, before he hands up his ministerial cap. He is regarded as one of the Coalition's best-performing ministers, sealing trade deals with China, Japan and South Korea in the last two years. He also played a pivotal role in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Follow us on Twitter