Vic Liberals choose new senate candidates

Institute of Public Affairs executive James Paterson has been preselected to replace retiring Victorian Senator Michael Ronaldson.

The 28-year-old lobbied hard and beat out several others, including legal aid lawyer Karina Okotel, for the position at a Liberals preselection convention at Melbourne's Caulfield racecourse on Sunday.

Superannuation policy adviser Jane Hume will take the third spot on the coalition's Senate ticket and sitting Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie was awarded the second spot as part of a deal between the Liberal Party and the Nationals.

Senator Ronaldson is yet to formally resign but has previously indicated he will retire before the next election.