Coulton was born in Sydney on 3 February 1958,[2] the son of Jack and Nancy Coulton. He grew up on the family's property in Gravesend, New South Wales. He was educated at Warialda Public School and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, where he was a boarder. He returned to the family farm after leaving school and later acquired a property of his own.[3]
Prior to entering parliament, Coulton was involved in various community organisations, including the Warialda Pony Club, the Warialda Rotary Club, and the local Bush Fire Brigade.[3] He served as president of the Warialda Pastoral and Agricultural Association, which organised the local agricultural show.[4] In September 2004, Coulton was elected as the inaugural mayor of Gwydir Shire, a new local government area created from three smaller councils.[5]
Politics
Coulton announced in November 2006 that he would seek National Party preselection for the Division of Parkes. He had previously been the chairman of the party's electoral council for the Division of Gwydir, which was abolished and merged into Parkes.[6] The incumbent Gwydir MP John Anderson was retiring, while the incumbent Parkes MP John Cobb chose to contest the Division of Calare.[7]
Coulton repeated his endorsement of Michael McCormack for his party's leadership at the February 2020 leadership spill, describing it as an "unfortunate distraction".[10] After McCormack was defeated by Joyce in the 2021 Nationals leadership spill, Joyce stripped Coulton of his ministerial portfolios.[11]
Positions
In November 2020, Coulton stated in a parliamentary speech that Israel was engaged in "a level of apartheid" with regard to Palestinians.[12] As of November 2023[update], he was co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine.[13]
Personal life
Coulton married schoolteacher Robyn Redford in 1981, with whom he had three children. He also has two brothers, one of whom − John Coulton − is a Gwydir Shire councillor.[5][3][14]
References
^Titled "Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment" until 29 May 2019