Retired state MP Russell Northe’s case adjourned until March

Ex-Morwell MP Russell Northe’s lawyer has called for a new report as the former politician faces charges of misconduct in public office.

Former Morwell MP Russell Northe cited personal reasons for retiring at the 2022 election. Picture: David Geraghty

Retired state MP Russell Northe who is facing corruption charges will undergo another psychiatric assessment after a report found he was unfit to stand trial.

The former Morwell MP, who retired at the 2022 election citing personal reasons, is facing 45 charges including two counts of misconduct in public office and more than 20 counts each of making and using false documents.

Mr Northe, 56, did not appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, instead represented by his lawyer Mark Woods who said his client’s treating psychiatrist had opined he was not fit to stand trial.

But Magistrate Andrew Halse suggested the report was written from a treating psychiatrist perspective rather than the required “medico-legal” view.

Mr Northe is accused of misconduct in public office. Picture: AAP

Mr Woods agreed and said the current report was not as detailed as he would have liked.

“Just to allay any fears … I certainly wasn’t seeking to indicate we wanted to subvert the ordinary procedure,” he said

He requested a seven-week adjournment to allow time for another report to be prepared by an independent psychiatric expert.

Mr Woods said discussions would take place with prosecutors so the chosen expert was agreed upon by both parties.

Mr Halse adjourned the matter to March 10.

Mr Northe, who served as state energy minister in 2014, was last year charged by the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission who alleged he produced and used documents relating to office expenses to obtain audit certificates.

According to court documents, Mr Northe is alleged to have falsified financial statements purporting to be from the company Workforce XS Traralgon relating to the employment of an administrative assistant for more than $43,000.

In other instances, he allegedly created a false lease schedule for an office rental in Traralgon amounting to $3100 and produced false documents relating to the purchase of a printer for nearly $6000.

He is also charged with submitting an annual return to the Victorian Electoral Commission which contained false or misleading material.

The alleged offending took place between 2019 and 2020 while Mr Northe was an independent MP.

A popular local football player prior to politics, Mr Northe was elected to parliament in 2006 for the Nationals before he left the party in 2017 after citing mental health issues and a gambling addiction.

The following year he won the seat as an independent before announcing his retirement at the 2022 election.