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Liberal MP Julia Banks during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra earlier this month.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

She was just one of two women to enter the race,which comes afterMs Banks reignited tensions over the party’s treatment of women.

Senior Liberals had forecast disaster if the party did not preselect another woman for Chisholm in light of the controversy surrounding Ms Banks.

Ms Liu is regarded as an avid fundraiser and her preselection was welcomed by high-profile figures within the party.

Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger said he was thrilled with the result. He said Ms Liu received the overwhelming support of delegates who voted for her.

“She is very well-known and popular in the Chisholm community,” he said. “We think she’s got an excellent chance of holding the seat.”

Ms Liu did not respond toThe Age’s requests for comment.

Shortly after Malcolm Turnbull was deposed as prime minister in August,Ms Banks accused fellow MPs of bullying.

She continued to make headlines this week byattacking the Liberal and Labor parties over refugee children stuck on Nauru. In Parliament she urged the government to take up New Zealand’s offer to accept 150 refugees a year from Nauru and Manus Island.

Ms Banks has also indicated she may run as an independent in Chisholm at the next federal election,which must be held by May.

Labor has preselected former Manningham City Council mayor Jennifer Yang to contest the election.

She also ran in the Melbourne City Council mayoral election this year.

Chisholm fell to the Liberal Party after former Labor MP Anna Burke retired in 2016.

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