Retired Australian MP Russell North has received a 21-month prison sentence after using more than A$170,000 (US$107,993) in public funds to feed his gambling addiction. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Spending time behind bars
A former Australian MP who embezzled political funds to feed his gambling addiction has been jailed for 21 months. Russell North was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for 16 years before stepping down in 2022. He pleaded guilty to two charges of misconduct while holding public office.
He cried when the judge issued the sentence
His guilty plea means the 57-year-old received a reduced sentence after using more than A$170,000 (US$107,993) of public money to fund his gambling. He cried when the judge issued the sentence; North can apply for parole after 12 months indoors.
An investigation by the independent council-based Anti-Corruption Commission led to Northey being slammed in 2022 on charges relating to 45 offences. This was later reduced to just two charges in January 2023 after he pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.
Red-handed
North provided false bank statements and receipts in an attempt not to return the money to the Victorian Electoral Commission, claiming he spent A$195,863 (US$124,422) running his Morwell electorate office when only A$17,050 (US$10,831) was a legitimate expense. The commission is conducting independent financial audits to determine how much money was actually spent on expenses and initially incurred on North’s claims.
Authorities eventually discovered that North had placed thousands of bets using public funds through the Ladbrokes and Tabcorp apps, racking up significant debts in the process. Trying to cover up Embezzlement of public fundsNorth tried to claim that the money was for expenses such as staffing, office equipment and rent.
Since North’s crimes came to light, he has been working at a local supermarket, earning around A$700 (US$445) a week.
In sentencing, Judge McInerney assessed the serious nature of the offenses and North’s state of mind at the time of the offenses. He described the behavior as “complex, prolonged and insolent” while also acknowledging the guilty party’s poor mental health and the hardships he would face in prison as mitigating factors. North will be on suicide watch when he begins serving his sentence, with a report from his psychiatrist in January stating that the former MP was not competent to stand trial due to his mental illness.
Long term issues
Judge McInerney attributed some of North’s suffering to stresses associated with the Morwell mine fires in 2014 that led to widespread chaos, as well as the 2019 bushfires that burned more than ten million hectares of land in south-eastern Australia.
Moving away due to his addiction to gambling, stress and depression
North was a member of the National Party between 2006 and 2017, eventually leaving due to gambling addiction, stress and depression. Local media reported at the time that North had accumulated debts of more than A$750,000 (US$476,438) to more than 30 local businessmen, friends, constituents, and even his parliamentary leader Peter Walsh.
He served as an independent in public office and won re-election on the subsequent ballot to state government. He has decided not to participate in the 2022 election, and in his recent parliamentary speech, he called for more support for people in Victoria battling addiction and mental health issues.
