A Victorian Nationals MP charged with fraud has been committed to stand trial just two months out from the state election.

Tim McCurdy, a former real estate agent who became a Coalition frontbencher, is accused of falsifying documents relating to the sale of two dairy farms in northern Victoria in 2009.

Police allege Mr McCurdy used the company letterhead of former colleague Andrew Gilmour to make the sales and collect commission.

Mr McCurdy denies the allegations and told the magistrates court in Shepparton, where a two-day committal hearing was being held, that he will plead not guilty to the charges.

A directions hearing has been set for November 2, less than three weeks before Victorians go to the polls.

The Ovens Valley MP faces a total of 10 fraud charges.

During the hearing, the court heard Mr McCurdy and Mr Gilmour had been close friends and worked for the same company, PGG Wrightson, before it ceased operation in 2009 and they parted ways.

Mr Gilmour went on to form rural property service Andrew Gilmour Pty Ltd.

Mr Gilmour now claims that Mr McCurdy used his company letterheads without permission to secure the commissions on the sales of the properties worth $375,000.

The court heard Mr McCurdy dealt with dairy farmers Pamela George and Rolf Malmo, facilitating the sale of their farms through the now-defunct PGG Wrightson.

The company ceased operations before the sales could be finalised, and Mr McCurdy went on to work for another agent but continued dealing with the vendors.

Complications arose when Mr McCurdy allegedly used letterheads from Mr Gilmour’s agency to finalise the sales, which Mr Gilmour said he did without permission.

The commission from the sale of one property, Pine Grove Park, was initially paid to the trust account of Mr Gilmour, who then authorised that money to be paid to Mr McCurdy.

The court heard Mr Gilmour had little to do with the sales, aside from a failed initial auction of the Pine Grove Park property.

‘He said Andrew had approved that’

Cobram woman Kelly Morey was secretary for Mr Gilmour’s new company in 2009 when Mr McCurdy allegedly arrived at the office asking for company letterheads.

The court heard Ms Morey was aware the pair were involved in two dairy farm negotiations due to her involvement in PGG Wrightson, and had assisted both in compiling sales-related documents.

The court heard the former frontbencher said he was “on the phone” to Mr Gilmour, when he asked Ms Morey for the company letterheads.

Because of the men’s close relationship, she did not question the transaction.

“I was at the front counter. He hung up the phone, said he was speaking to Andrew and could I grab some letterheads?” Ms Morey said.

“He said Andrew had approved that.”

Ms Morey said the men remained on good terms following the exchange, until Mr Gilmour complained about the property dealings to Consumer Affairs Victoria in 2014, five years after the sales occurred.

The matter was then handed over to Cobram Detective Sergeant Marcus Boyd, who told the court Mr Gilmour had not been aware of any alleged wrongdoing until he heard about the sale of Mr Malmo’s farm.

“He said he was contacted by a valuer who asked him about the history of the Malmo farm, and he told me he wasn’t aware of the sale of the farm by Mr McCurdy, and then he complained about that,” Detective Sergeant Boyd said.

“And that led him to questioning his actions with the Pine Grove Park sale.”

Accused told to ‘man up’

Under cross-examination by the defence yesterday, Detective Sergeant Boyd said Mr Gilmour sent an email to the accused last week telling him to “man up”.

The court also heard that Mr Gilmour lobbied politicians over the matter.

Detective Sergeant Boyd confirmed to the court that Mr Gilmour had written letters to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, and said in an email that he “had a fair crack at [Nationals leader] Peter Walsh”.

Detective Sergeant Boyd said Mr Gilmour had also complained to the corruption watchdog, IBAC, that the investigation was taking too long.

Election plans still stand

Speaking outside court this afternoon, Mr McCurdy said the trial will not derail his bid for re-election.

“Absolutely I’ll be running for Ovens Valley and continue to do the good work I’ve been doing over the last eight years,” he told reporters.

“This is the third time I’ve been to court in an election year, so the next opportunity I get to have my say in the near future I am looking forward to that.

“We’re one step closer to the next opportunity for me to have my say.”

Asked if he was entitled to the commissions, he replied that it was “not about the commissions”.

“It’s about my opportunity to have a say, and that’s what I get on with next,” he said.

“I can’t talk about the case any more than that, but I will get an opportunity to have my say that I haven’t yet so far.”

The Nationals released a statement that did not directly express its support for Mr McCurdy.

“Tim maintains he has committed no wrongdoing, and that he looks forward to clearing his name,” it read in part.

“He is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial when that time comes.

“Tim will continue to work hard delivering for the people of the Ovens Valley electorate while this matter is resolved.”

-ABC