Russell Northe

On 28 August 2017, Northe resigned from the National Party due to stress, depression and gambling issues. According to the ABC, he had also accrued significant debts, partly due to gambling. Northe defied expectations and was re-elected in his seat at the 2018 state election, and pledged to be a "conservative independent" member.

In 2014, Northe was elevated to Cabinet as Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for Small Business. He held those ministerial portfolios until the defeat of the Napthine/Ryan Coalition Government at the 2014 state election. After the election defeat and the resignation of long-serving Nationals leader Peter Ryan, Northe pursued the party deputy leadership but was ultimately overlooked in favour of novice MP Steph Ryan.

At the 2010 state election, Northe achieved the biggest pro-Coalition swing in the state to transform Morwell into one of the National Party's safest Victorian seats, with a two-party-preferred margin of 16.29% against Labor. Northe won Morwell on the primary vote, polling 56.24% in his own right, and won every polling booth except the small Yallourn North booth, where Labor recorded a narrow majority. With the Liberal/Nationals Coalition winning government, Northe was also appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business.

Northe has served on the Parliament's Rural and Regional Committee since 2007.

Northe was born in Traralgon, Victoria and attended Traralgon High School, completing Year 11 in 1982. In 2006, Northe completed a Certificate IV in Business.

Russell John Northe (born 6 February 1966) is an Australian politician and a current member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Prior to winning preselection by The Nationals for the seat of Morwell, he was a local Australian rules footballer. He resigned from The Nationals in August 2017, and is currently an independent member of parliament.