Tourism boss set for top Liberal post

Tourism entrepreneur Andrew Burnes is tipped to take over the role of federal Liberal treasurer, as the party prepares its war-chest for an election in 2016.

It is understood the current treasurer, Philip Higginson, has not renominated and Mr Burnes is expected to replace him at next week's Liberal federal council meeting.

Mr Burnes, a Victorian barrister, was deputy chairman of Tourism Australia from 2006 to 2009 and is chief executive of the AOT Group.

Mr Higginson caused a stir in the party earlier this year by calling on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to remove Peta Credlin as his chief of staff because of her alleged conflict of interest in being married to federal Liberal director Brian Loughnane.

The federal executive has put in place an audit and governance committee after Mr Higginson's criticism that the party's books were "teetering on the edge of an abyss".

Mr Burnes is a close friend of Treasurer Joe Hockey.