Federal Member for Parkes and former Coalition cabinet member Mark Coulton has expressed his “incredible disappointment” following last week’s vote to change the leader of the National Party.
Former party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was defeated in a leadership spill against Member for New England Barnaby Joyce.
In a Nationals frontbench reshuffle announced on Sunday, Mr Coulton lost his position of Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government.
Mr Coulton paid tribute to the hard work of the party’s former leader, Mr McCormack.
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Coulton said Mr McCormack and Prime Minister Scott Morrison worked well as a team.
He also praised the Coalition government’s efforts in what has been a challenging previous almost 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Largely, the Australian people were supportive of what we were doing,” Mr Coulton said.
Mr Coulton also praised the Coalition’s attention to Narrabri and made particular mention of Mr McCormack’s interest in the shire.
“He has been very responsive to the needs of Narrabri,” Mr Coulton said.
“I’m eternally grateful to Michael for bestowing upon me the honour of being a minister in his team to advocate for the needs of rural Australians right across the country.
“Michael’s incredible work ethic, integrity and desire to always put regional and rural Australia first is exemplary.”
Reflecting on his own political journey, Mr Coulton said when he decided to put his hand up and enter the world of federal politics almost 15 years ago, it was to serve the people of the Parkes electorate.
“I’m still the Member for Parkes and that’s my primary role,” he said.
“I will continue to turn up each and every day for the wonderful people of the Parkes electorate. They are the people who have put me here for the past 14 years, and to them I am very grateful.”
Following Sunday’s frontbench reshuffle, Mr Coulton said he was proud of all the programs and changes he was able to deliver during his time as a minister.
“It has been a privilege to work with rural health professionals across the sector to improve healthcare in regional, rural and remote Australia and keep people in the bush safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“I’m proud and pleased with the progress we’ve collectively made over the past two years in the areas of workforce distribution, changes to GP and allied health training and positive improvements to how bush doctors are remunerated.
“The people of regional Australia are enormously fortunate to have some of the most dedicated and highly-skilled doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in the country to care and advocate for them.
“The bespoke modern broadband projects we’re delivering through the Regional Connectivity Program will set many small towns and villages in good stead, enabling people in those communities to grow their business, access education and importantly connect with family and friends.
“More than 1,220 areas across the country will or already have a new phone tower as a result of our Mobile Black Spot Program to keep them better connected.”
Mr Coulton also spruiked the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
“The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program is assisting councils in every corner of the country to deliver priority local road and infrastructure projects to support jobs and boost the resilience of local economies and to help communities bounce back from the pandemic,” he said.
“Coalition government investment in the LRCI program totals $2.5 billion. It’s enabled councils to partner with the Government to deliver vital roads and infrastructure.”
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