Member for Parkes
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development & Emerging Trade Markets

Mark Coulton was first elected to Parliament as the Federal Member of Parkes in 2007 and holds the position of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources and Conservation.

Mark was born the son of Jack and Nancy Coulton of “Avondale” Gravesend. Mark went to Warialda Public School then Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School as a boarding student. He participated in a range of activities, including his favourite sport rugby league.  As well as this, riding and working with horses have always been a big part of his life.

After completing high school, Mark returned to the family farm. In 1981, he married Robyn, who had arrived from Sydney to teach at the small primary school at Gravesend. Mark and Robyn have three children, Claire, now a teacher working in London, Sally, a doctor at Tamworth Base Hospital, and Matthew, currently attending university at ANU in Canberra.

Prior to entering federal Parliament, Mark was the Mayor of the new and progressive Gwydir Shire Council from 2004 until 2007, and has also been an active member of the community through his involvement in a wide variety of community organisations, including Warialda Pony Club, the local Bush Fire Brigade and the Warialda Rotary Club. He is a life member of Warialda Apex.

Since his election to Parliament, Mark has been working hard to represent the people of the Parkes electorate in Canberra. He also holds a place in the Shadow Ministry, as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources and Conservation.

Mark was previously the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Ageing and the Voluntary Sector, and holds a position on the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee. He is also co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Meals on Wheel sand Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy.

As a Federal Member Mark continues to work hard to improve local road sand infrastructure. He is passionate about providing opportunities for people of all ages to further their education and to develop practical skills. Mark has helped deliver positive results for his community, including the Gwydir Learning Region, a successful partnership between Gwydir Shire Council, local schools, TAFE, universities and businesses.

Family and community are two things Mark values above all else. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

About the Parkes electorate

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Parkes covers an area of approximately 107,108 sq km from the Queensland border in the north to Kandos, Ilford and Euchareena in the south, from Warialda, Gunnedah and Olinda in the east to Dubbo, Quambone and Lightning Ridge in the west.

The maintowns include Baradine, Binnaway, Boggabilla, Boggabri, Collarenebri, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Dunedoo, Gilgandra, Gulgong, Gunnedah, Kandos, Lightning Ridge, Mendooran, Moree, Mudgee, Mungindi, Narrabri, Walgett,Warialda, Wee Waa and Wellington.

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