Outgoing South Australian Liberal MP Christopher Pyne says his replacement should be selected "entirely on merit", brushing aside suggestions a woman should take the role.
The defence minister announced his retirement on Saturday after 26 years as the member for Sturt.
Mr Pyne would not weigh in on who should succeed him, but said the candidate must know how to campaign, come from the area and have the potential to be a cabinet minister.
The Liberal Party has come under fire for its gender breakdown, but Mr Pyne did not agree the party should deliberately pre-select a female replacement.
"The criteria is overlaid with the fact that it has to be based entirely on merit," he said.
Labor Senator Penny Wong on Saturday paid tribute to Mr Pyne as a tough and worthy opponent, but said he was the latest to resign in a "stampede for the exit" under Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Ms Wong said Liberal pre-selection in Sturt was a matter for the party, but highlighted gender inequality as an issue affecting the government.
"The Liberal Party seem to have this problem with pre-selecting women, with promoting women and with actually having women in their party room," she said.
"I think Kelly O'Dwyer said it well when she described their party as 'women hating'."
Mr Pyne said while a decision on his replacement will be up to electors, Premier Steven Marshall's chief of staff James Stevens "fits the criteria".
Mr Stevens is also a federal electorate conference president and has been Sturt campaign manager for the last four elections.
"James Stevens is a very fine individual," Mr Pyne said.
The Liberal Party state executive is expected to meet in the next week to determine a timeline to select Mr Pyne's replacement.
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