Russell Northe
Encyclopedia
Russell 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 football
er.
, Victoria
and attended Traralgon High School, completing Year 11 in 1982. In 2006, Northe completed a Certificate IV
in Business.
to win the seat. Northe doubled The Nationals primary vote, secured with the aid of Liberal Party
and ex-Labor independent preferences.
This win also served to help secure The Nationals future as a political party in Victoria. Russell Northe joined fellow parliamentarians Peter Ryan and Peter Hall
as The Nationals state parliamentary representatives for Gippsland.
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.
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
. Prior to winning preselection by The Nationals
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
for the seat of Morwell
Electoral district of Morwell
The Electoral district of Morwell is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It covers the regional centres of Morwell and Traralgon as well as the surrounding rural areas in the middle of Gippsland....
, he was a local Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er.
Early life & Education
Northe was born in TraralgonTraralgon, Victoria
Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and attended Traralgon High School, completing Year 11 in 1982. In 2006, Northe completed a Certificate IV
Australian Qualifications Framework
The Australian Qualifications Framework provides the hierarchy of educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Few qualifications outside the system are accepted by employers or for...
in Business.
Political & Parliamentary Career
Utilising repetitive television advertising and campaigning on the issues of workers rights and bicycle paths, Northe was able to capitalise on divisions within some local branches of the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
to win the seat. Northe doubled The Nationals primary vote, secured with the aid of Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
and ex-Labor independent preferences.
This win also served to help secure The Nationals future as a political party in Victoria. Russell Northe joined fellow parliamentarians Peter Ryan and Peter Hall
Peter Hall (politician)
Peter Ronald Hall is an Australian politician. He has been a National member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 1988, representing Gippsland Province. He is the current leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council and the Shadow Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation...
as The Nationals state parliamentary representatives for Gippsland.
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.