Nationals officials claim they never saw $5k meant for Morwell MP 2010 election campaign

A $5000 cheque meant for the 2010 election campaign of Morwell MP Russell Northe was deposited into his personal bank account and Nationals officials claim they never saw the money.

EXCLUSIVE: A $5000 cheque meant for the 2010 election campaign of Morwell MP Russell Northe was deposited into his personal bank account and Nationals officials claim they never saw the money.

The cheque’s fate came to light in September last year when the donor asked Westpac to trace its destination, after Mr Northe quit the ­Nationals because of depression and alcohol abuse.

The MP, who is contesting Saturday’s election as an ­independent, said he had “made some mistakes” but the matter of the cheque was “not something I recall”.

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The Herald Sun can also reveal multiple Gippsland residents also fear they will never get back loans to Mr Northe, who is believed to have paid back about $250,000 of about $675,000 he owed to more than 30 people.

A Westpac document on the $5000 cheque shows it was made out to the “Morwell Campayne (sic)” and was paid into an account named “Russell John Northe” in October 2010.

A senior Nationals official said the party had no evidence it had ever received the money.

The businessman who co-signed the cheque confronted Mr Northe last year after rev­elations the MP borrowed hundreds of thousands of ­dollars from constituents and colleagues.

The donor said Mr Northe told him he used the money for campaigning and “didn’t need to repay it because it was a ­donation”.

The Herald Sun has also been told Mr Northe withdrew $8000 from the party account last year, telling officials it was needed for a fundraising event.

It is understood he repaid the cash when the issue was raised by branch members.

Mr Northe refused to comment on specific allegations for legal reasons.

He said he was dealing with issues including “grief, work, business, financial and family related matters” and had “never blamed anyone other than myself”.

“I have made mistakes, and I have taken responsibility for those mistakes and, despite the efforts of some, I am moving forward,” he said.

Morwell MP Russell Northe. Picture: David Geraghty

“Some of the decisions I made external to work were poor ones … subsequently and unfortunately, many unfoun­d­ed allegations have been aimed in my direction.”

Despite the turmoil, Mr Northe is a frontrunner to win the crowded Morwell race, and would pocket almost $85,000 if he loses.

Many community members who are allegedly owed “hundreds of thousands” believe they will only get their money back if he is re-elected.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh revealed earlier this year he had loaned Mr Northe $30,000 in 2016, under a “handshake agreement”, which he had so far failed to pay back in full.

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