18 Facts About Mark Coulton

Mark Maclean Coulton was born on 3 February 1958 and is an Australian politician.

Mark Coulton is a member of the National Party and has served in the House of Representatives since the 2007 federal election, representing the Division of Parkes in New South Wales.

Mark Coulton has served as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment, Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and Deputy Speaker of the House.

Mark Coulton grew up on the family's property in Gravesend, New South Wales.

Mark Coulton was educated at Warialda Public School and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, where he was a boarder.

Mark Coulton returned to the family farm after leaving school and later acquired a property of his own.

Mark Coulton served as president of the Warialda Pastoral and Agricultural Association, which organised the local agricultural show.

In September 2004, Mark Coulton was elected as the inaugural mayor of Gwydir Shire, a new local government area created from three smaller councils.

Mark Coulton announced in November 2006 that he would seek National Party preselection for the Division of Parkes.

Mark Coulton had previously been the chairman of the party's electoral council for the Division of Gwydir, which was abolished and merged into Parkes.

Mark Coulton was elected to parliament at the 2007 federal election.

Mark Coulton served as a shadow parliamentary secretary from 2007 to 2010, and then as the Nationals' Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016.

Mark Coulton endorsed Michael McCormack for the leadership of the National Party in February 2018, following the resignation of Barnaby Joyce.

In March 2018, Mark Coulton resigned as Deputy Speaker to take up the position of Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment in the Turnbull government.

Mark Coulton retained the position when Scott Morrison became prime minister in August 2018.

Mark Coulton repeated his endorsement of Michael McCormack for his party's leadership at the February 2020 leadership spill, describing it as an "unfortunate distraction".

In November 2020, Mark Coulton stated in a parliamentary speech that Israel was engaged in "a level of apartheid" with regard to Palestinians.

Mark Coulton married schoolteacher Robyn Redford in 1981, with whom he had three children.