The letter was delivered to households on Mr Marshall’s stationary and included his photo and signature on the bottom.

“When the letter was brought to my attention I was absolutely furious,” Mr Marshall said.

“I did not see, nor endorse the letter which was sent out to people’s homes, purporting to be from me. 

“If I had wanted to write a letter to residents, it would be from my own hand. From the heated phone calls and personal exchanges since being alerted to the letter, I can assure people that those in Head Office will not be doing that again.”

Mr Marshall said his name had been put to the political campaign document without his approval.

“I don’t require people to speak for me and am insulted that those in Head Office think I do. 

“I also think it’s a massive slap in the face to the community,” Mr Marshall said.

“I have received an apology from the state director of the party about how the fraudulent letter came to be delivered to people in Inverell and Glen Innes without my approval.

“Hopefully, though, people saw through it – an old photo, wrong letterhead, and a printed signature. It’s clearly not from me.”

Mr Marshall moved to reassure the electorate about the correspondence.

“I want the community to know that if they receive something from me in the post, that it is me who sent it to them, not some half-cocked letter written by someone from Sydney,” he said. A spokesman for Mr Joyce’s office said, as far as he knew, Mr Joyce’s office had nothing to do with the correspondence.

“I haven’t seen the letter, but if somebody is accusing someone of forging a letter they should report it to the AEC,” he said.

Mr Marshall said his signature had now been withdrawn from use by The Nationals head office without his prior consent.