Biography of The Hon Mark Coulton MP

The Hon Mark Coulton MP is the Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister in Australia's Federal Coalition Government. He has served in the House of Representatives as the Member for Parkes since 2007.

Mr Coulton was previously Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. He has also held the positions of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Ageing and the Voluntary Sector; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water and Conservation; and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Emerging Trade Markets; and was the National Party's Chief Whip from September 2010 to May 2016.

Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Mr Coulton was the Mayor of Gwydir Shire Council from 2004 until 2007 and has an extensive agricultural background, having spent 30 years as a farmer and grazier.

Mr Coulton is married with three children.