The Liberal Party has selected paediatrician and former state candidate for Prahran Katie Allen as its candidate to replace outgoing federal MP Kelly O'Dwyer in the Melbourne seat of Higgins.

Key points: Dr Allen is a paediatric gastroenterologist and allergist

Dr Allen is a paediatric gastroenterologist and allergist Kelly O'Dwyer is leaving politics at the next federal election for family reasons

Kelly O'Dwyer is leaving politics at the next federal election for family reasons Higgins has been held by the Liberal Party since 1949, but the Greens pose a threat

Dr Allen won pre-selection from a field of eight, beating former Victorian Liberal Party vice-president Greg Hannan in the final round of voting.

Zoe McKenzie, a director at NBN Co, was also in the field.

Dr Allen, a paediatric gastroenterologist and allergist, was unable to shift the Greens candidate from the state seat at November's Victorian election, but she was looking forward to working with Ms O'Dwyer in the lead-up to the federal vote.

"I'm deeply honoured to be selected by the pre-selectors today and look forward to working hard," she said.

Ms O'Dwyer said Dr Allen was the "best person for the job".

The seat of Higgins has been held by the Liberals since its creation in 1949, but the Greens have had a strong presence in the seat attracting 25 per cent of the primary vote at the last election and around 40 per cent after preferences.

The Minister for Women is leaving politics at the next federal election for family reasons — one of a number of women leaving the Liberal Party's parliamentary ranks, including Julia Banks, Jane Prentice, Ann Sudmalis, and former deputy leader Julie Bishop.

Sorry, this video has expired Kelly O'Dwyer retires from Parliament citing personal reasons

Twelve of the Coalition's 74 federal MPs are women, compared to nearly half of all federal Labor MPs.

An attempt to get more women pre-selected was thwarted in the West Australian electorate of Stirling on Saturday, the seat being vacated by Human Services Minister Michael Keenan.

Woodside Energy executive Vince Connelly was the only male among the five candidates seeking preselection, but was selected by the branch as the preferred candidate.