Katie Allen chosen to contest Higgins at federal election

The Liberals have avoided the prospect of its female ranks going down even further with the party choosing a woman to succeed Kelly O’Dwyer in the blue-ribbon seat of Higgins.

The Liberals have avoided the prospect of its female ranks going down even further with the party choosing a woman to succeed senior Cabinet minister Kelly O’Dwyer in the Melbourne seat of Higgins.

Paediatrician Katie Allen, who ran unsuccessfully for Liberals in the state seat of Prahran last year, has been chosen to contest Higgins at the federal election in May.

Katie Allen has been chosen to contest the seat of Higgins. Picture: Mark Stewart

Liberal strategists and MPs are tonight breathing sighs of relief, with many fearing male candidate Greg Hannan was going to win before the vote took place.

Kelly O'Dwyer, who held the blue-ribbon seat of Higgins, has resigned. Picture: Getty

“Congratulations to Katie Allen who was preselected today as the Liberal Victoria candidate for Higgins,” Liberal Victoria announced on Twitter. The doctor defeated eight others for the plum seat including NBN board member Zoe McKenzie, Greg Hannan and former Victorian state upper MP Margaret Fitzherbert.

Other candidates included Jane Bell, Michael Flynn, Jeremy Hearn and Karen Massier.

It comes after former soldier Vince Connelly defeated four women to succeed Human Services Minister Michael Keenan as the Liberal candidate for the WA seat of Stirling.