Dr Bill Glasson has been endorsed as Liberal National Party candidate for the by-election in Kevin Rudd's seat of Griffith.
The party said on Wednesday that Mr Glasson had been preselected unopposed for the federal by-election in the former prime minister's Brisbane seat.
The ophthalmologist, a close friend of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, was a narrow second in September's election, attracting a 5.5 per cent swing and reducing Mr Rudd's margin to three per cent.
"If given the privilege, I will be a strong local voice in government. I'll be committed to making positive changes for the people of Griffith, for our community and for Australia," Dr Glasson said in a statement on Wednesday.
He'll have plenty of time to campaign.
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Mr Rudd, who held the seat for 15 years, plans to submit his formal letter of resignation later this week, pushing out the likely date of a by-election into next year.
LNP state director Brad Henderson said Dr Glasson would be a "strong and effective voice" if elected.
Labor is yet to announce who its candidate will be, but employment and industrial relations lawyer Terri Butler has emerged as front runner.
