Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has returned to a familiar position as the Nationals’ Chief Whip, where he will be responsible for organising the National Party members in the House of Representatives. 

Mr Coulton was appointed this week by new Nationals leader David Littleproud, following the announcement of the Coalition’s shadow ministry on Sunday 5 June.

Under the role, Chief and party whips are responsible for setting agendas, organising party members wishing to speak, ensuring the party votes as a team, and counting and recording votes. 

Mr Coulton said the role is particularly important as government opposition. 

“I believe my experience as the longest-serving Nationals member in the House of Representatives will be useful to help the Party continue to be the strong voice for regional Australia,” Mr Coulton said. 

It’s a position he’ll need no time acquainting himself with, given he held the same role for two terms, from 2010 to 2016. 

The new role is a shift from his most recent roles as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, an inevitable removal as Labor forms Government and the ministerial positions. 

Prior to those roles, he held ministerial positions in Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, and Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. 

Historically, the term ‘whip’ was derived from fox-hunting in England. The whipper-in was the person who whipped all the hunting hounds into a pack, pointed them in the right direction to chase the fox and ensured that the pack did not stray. 

Each major Party in parliament has their own Chief Whip for both Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as two deputy whips.