National Senator Matt Canavan has hit out at his state colleagues saying “it’s really disappointing” to see other Nationals members “choose to increase taxes on Australian businesses and on the Australian public” with a new “electricity Bill”.

Mr Canavan’s comments regarded a recent electricity Bill tabled before the State Parliament of New South Wales which looks to replace four coal-fired power stations with wind, pumped-hydro, and solar projects over the next 15 years.

“There’s a charge in here on the electricity sector; there’s effectively an additional electricity tax,” Mr Canavan said.

“It’s really disappointing that people of my own party, my own colleagues choose to increase taxes on Australian businesses and on the Australian public.

“Our first duty, my first duty is to the people I represent, the good and hard-working people in our coal industry.

“This is a tax, a tax placed on people’s power bills all with the aim of putting coal-fired power stations out of action.

“All with the effect of lifting power prices.”

He said further, the act was “draconian” and aspects of the bill were “completely against the principles and values” he stands for.

“One part of this act, just to show how draconian this is, gives the minister the power to direct and make a network provider, an electricity network provider, to build a transmission line.

“They’re made to build something.

“I think that is completely against the principles and values I stand up for as a member of the Nationals Party.

“I think we should build a coal-fired power station, lets drop all this rubbish of working together, because we’re not.”