The electorate officer of retiring Liberal MP Martin Dixon has been picked to replace him, in a move some party insiders are saying is a "disastrous" blow to efforts to renew the party.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Russell Joseph, who has worked for the former minister since 2014, beat four other candidates for the safe seat – the Liberals hold it by 7.6 per cent.
Some party insiders were shocked by the result, saying his selection flew in the face of the party's push for renewal and attempts for the parliamentary arm to be more diverse.
Mr Joseph, 56, is described by many as a "decent bloke", but most party insiders do not expect him to serve on the front bench.
"Forget about clearing out the dead wood, we are now preselecting them," one source said.
Others, however, defended Mr Joseph's victory, saying he won fairly through the party's democratic system.
His victory comes a day after James Newbury won the Brighton preselection, in what was a blow for Opposition Leader Matthew Guy's push to increase female representation in Liberal ranks by 10 per cent.
Mr Newbury is replacing Louise Asher in the seat, which the Liberals hold by 9.8 per cent. He defeated two female candidates, including upper house MP Margaret Fitzherbert, for the plum spot.
Mr Guy said Mr Joseph would be "a fierce advocate for the community that he has been a part of for 40 years".
Both Mr Newbury and Mr Joseph worked for the Napthine government.
The weekend's two preselection results will reignite questions over how the party can promote more diverse candidates into Parliament without undermining the membership's democratic process.
Mr Joseph has been contacted for comment.
