UNASSUMING Nationals MP Mark Coulton has been elected deputy speaker in the House of Representatives for the new federal parliament.
Mr Coulton represents a NSW rural electorate and has been his party’s chief whip for the past six years.
The 58-year old former farmer was first elected to represent the sparse NSW rural seat of Parkes at the 2007 election and was returned this year by another safe majority.
“I wish to express my gratitude for the high honour the House has given me,” Mr Coulton said.
“Representing half of NSW is a privilege and a great responsibility that I take very seriously, and it is an honour to have been elected to the deputy dpeaker role on top of that.
“It is another milestone on my timeline in serving the Australian Parliament and I’m privileged to be involved in the running of the parliament.”
Mr Coulton congratulated Victorian Labor MP Rob Mitchell on his election to the role of second deputy speaker, while Liberal MP Tony Smith was returned as speaker.
In a post-election interview Mr Coulton spoke about his pragmatic political style that often goes unnoticed.
“If people want me to jump through hoops and juggle three balls all at once and be some sport of human headline, they’ve got the wrong person,” he said.
“My job is to represent the people of my electorate, regardless of who they are.
“My style is that you do the job that you’re given.
“Everyone who comes to my office is treated like their problem is a serious problem that requires a lot of care and concern and very, very few people leave my office after having an issue dealt with, feeling like they haven’t had a fair go.
“You treat everyone with respect and you’ve got to love what you do and you’ve got to like the people you represent and if you don’t like those people, you’re in the wrong game.
“Due to the transient nature of federal politics, I’m one of the longest serving members now, going into my fourth term, and if an opportunity comes along to step up into another role I’ll gladly take it - but that’s a decision for others.”
Mr Coulton also faced a major challenge at the election with the Shenhua-Watermark coal mine moved from New England into his electorate due to electoral boundary changes in NSW.
Rather than opposing coal or gas mining for the sake of it, he said a progressive global view was needed.
“The farming areas in my electorate will be producing food in one thousand years’ time if we look after them but mining for coal will be gone within 30 or 40 years,” he said.
“We can’t do anything that impacts on the long term viability of those farming areas and if there’s any concern about that I’ll be pursuing it to the utmost.”
Queensland National Party MP George Christensen was made the new Nationals’ chief whip and fellow State MP Michelle Landry was appointed the deputy whip.