Frydenberg an 'absolute asset' for Liberals as Karen Andrews backs former Treasurer ahead of election

A Liberal politician is backing the former treasurer Josh Frydenberg despite concerns his potential political revival could undermine female representation within the party.

Mr Frydenberg is reportedly mulling a return to politics after draft redistribution changes shifted the margins of his old electorate, making Kooyong more winnable for the Liberals.

However, 31-year-old Amelia Hamer was pre-selected for the Melbourne seat in late March.

The Liberal Party is already under scrutiny for its lack of female parliamentarians and a push to return Mr Frydenberg could fuel further criticism.

But former cabinet colleague Karen Andrews maintains the ex-treasurer should resurrect his political career.

“He would be an absolute asset to the team we take forward to the next election,” she told ABC radio on Monday.

“I have a lot of confidence in Josh Frydenberg’s ability.

“(The Liberal Party) should do all they can to attract him back into our parliament and clearly if that means re-opening pre-selections then that has to be considered.”

The former federal treasurer hasn’t made any public comments.

Politicians like independent Senator Jacqui Lambie have warned that Mr Frydenberg’s return may not be well received.

“We’ve already heard enough about the Liberal Party and the way they don’t have enough females,” she told the Today Show on Monday.

“What I’m hearing is they have a fairly good one on the ground there - they’ve been through the pre-selection process, they’ve won that fair and square.

“So for him to come in and that be given back to Josh, I don’t think that’s going to go down well and that’s not going to help you win your seat back.”

Mr Frydenberg lost the blue ribbon seat at the 2022 election after teal independent Monique Ryan won an uphill battle against the then-treasurer.

Cabinet minister Amanda Rishworth said talk of his potential return showed the Liberal Party was searching for a new leader.

“They’re obviously desperately trying to find someone else other than Peter Dutton,” she said.

“Maybe (Mr Frydenberg) is more likely to get elected ... but it’s certainly not going to help the Liberal Party get more women into parliament.”

Though the government has not announced an official date for the federal election, Australians will have to go to the polls by May 2025.