Victorian Liberal pick Nicole Ta-Ei Werner says working with refugees and disadvantaged young people will come in handy as she gears up to run in a crucial by-election in Melbourne's northeast.
The former Box Hill candidate and daughter of Malaysian-Chinese migrants said her previous work as a youth pastor had served as preparation in the culturally diverse state after she won the Warrandyte preselection battle.
"I'm actually proud of my work as a youth pastor, I worked with refugee communities, I worked with disadvantaged young people and I think that's part of the beauty of Victoria," she told reporters on Monday.
"My dad is a Buddhist, my mum is agnostic, my brother ... he's an atheist, we have Islamic family members and my husband and I are Christians.
"That is part of the fabric of Victoria and what makes it great
"It's a multicultural, multi-faith society and I will always defend the right for people to have the freedom to worship if they choose to or not and the religion they choose to practice or not."
Ms Werner, who failed to regain the marginal seat of Box Hill for the Liberals in November, won preselection for the Warrandyte by-election in a vote of more than 100 party members at a Chirnside Park golf club on Sunday.
The charity manager beat out 22-year-old law student Antonietta Di Cosmo and Institute of Public Affairs senior fellow John Roskam in the final two rounds of voting.
If successful, Ms Werner would become the 10th woman in the state Liberals' 30-member party room following outspoken MP Moira Deeming's expulsion after she participated in an anti-trans rights rally attended by neo-Nazis.
The by-election was triggered by long-serving Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith's sudden decision to quit politics early next month.
Held by the Liberals on a 4.2 per cent margin, it could prove a hurdle for opposition leader John Pesutto amid mounting internal divisions.
Mr Pesutto, who is facing potential defamation action from Ms Deeming, said he and his colleagues looked forward to campaigning with Ms Werner.
"I'm so thrilled that we have a candidate in Nicole Werner, who's grown up in this area, who knows its people, knows the issues, has lived those issues," Mr Pesutto said.
"She's going to be a strong advocate for the people of Warrandyte and I know she's going to be continuing what she's been doing, talking to people, engaging with people about the issues that are important to them."
Labor is yet to announce whether it will contest the poll, which is expected to be held some time in August or September.
It will be the first Victorian state by-election in more than five years, and Labor hasn't won one since taking the seat of Benalla from the Nationals in 2000.
