Former Liberal government minister Kelly O'Dwyer was a fierce advocate for equality in parliament and became the first woman ever to have a child while in cabinet.

Born in 1977, O'Dwyer grew up in the scenic town of Emerald in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges.

After graduating from Melbourne University with honours in law and an arts degree majoring in history, O'Dwyer began her legal career specialising in corporate law at the well-established firm Freehills.

But in 2004 she swapped law for politics, taking up a spot in the office of then-federal treasurer Peter Costello, first as an adviser and then working her way up to senior adviser.

After the Liberals lost the 2007 election, O'Dwyer left politics and moved into an executive role at National Australia Bank.

But when her former boss Costello decided to retire in 2009, it was the youthful O'Dwyer who he backed as his replacement for the historically safe Liberal seat of Higgins.

There were some who were unhappy with the young married woman being considered as a candidate for what was typically considered a "leadership seat", claiming she was unsuitable and that the role would damage her marriage.

The whispers prompted several senior Liberal MPs to hit back at the sexist campaign. O'Dwyer gained preselection for the seat, which she won convincingly at the 2009 election and again in 2016.

O'Dwyer went on to be appointed minister for revenue and financial services, and later as minister for women and minister assisting the prime minister for the public service in the Turnbull government

She made history as the first cabinet minister to give birth, welcoming her second child with her husband in 2017.

She called on the coalition to do more to help women stand for parliament, and help set up a 'fighting fund' to finance their campaigns.

When O'Dwyer announced her intention to stand down at the 2019 election, the party selected Katie Allen to contest her seat, which she won.

Australian Associated Press