Reports said there are about 10 interested people in the seat to be officially vacated by Ms Fisher in late August when her resignation takes effect. Among them is Anne Ruston from Renmark who was spotted having breakfast on Sunday at the Old Lion Hotel in North Adelaide with Senator Simon Birmingham and Riverland state MP Tim Whetstone.

Ms Ruston is the party state vice president and third on the list of Liberal members endorsed for the 2013 election, behind Senator Cory Bernardi and Mr Birmingham. She is reportedly a favourite for the post.

Other possible nominees are Cathy Webb, Kate Raggatt, Andrew McLaughlin Paul Salu, Chris Monarty and Maria Kourtesis. Ms Kourtesis ran against Ms Fisher for the 2007 vacancy created by the resignation of Amanda Vanstone, but Ms Fisher won the six-year term that started July 1, 2011. Ms Fisher should have occupied the post until June 30, 2017, were it not for the second shoplifting scandal she was involved in.

However, because of the expected tight battle for the seat about to be vacated, the already fractious relations between moderate and conservative wings of the Liberal Party in South Australia may worsen. One group said Ms Ruston should renounce her secured spot on the ticket, but other members dismissed the call.

Liberal MP Christopher Pyne said the party must fill up the seat ahead of parliament's resumption on Aug 14.

It was the second hit for Ms Fisher, who was charged with shoplifting in September 2011 for $90 worth of food items. However, she was cleared of the charge but was found guilty of assaulting a security officer, although was not penalised for the offence.

For her second shoplifting incident, the senator alleged took $60 worth of unpaid food items which were found inside her bag from a Coles branch. She attributed her behaviour to depression which she is battling and having difficulty recovering from. She likewise blamed it on repeated pressure from the police prosecution service for the first shoplifting charge.

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