When Fatima Payman crossed the Senate floor to vote against her government she knew it would come with consequences.
The Australian Labor party has strict penalties for those who undermine its collective positions, and acts of defiance can lead to expulsion - a precedent with a 130-year history.
The last time one of its politicians tested the waters while in power was before Ms Payman was born.
But last Tuesday, the 29-year-old did just that - joining the Green party and independent senators to support a motion on Palestinian statehood.
You vote for the person, you should get the person.
I am unsure where you are from, and I also don’t know if you know how senate voting works in Australia.
You can vote for the party by voting above the line, or you can vote below the line for the individuals.
No disrespect, but I think I disagree with you. I mean, I cant possibly be expected to know every single thing about every person I vote for.
Parties help give you a general idea of the viewpoints of a person without having to know every single stance a person has.
So why do they campaign individually? Why do they talk about their values or priorities at all? Why does it matter that they live in their electorate? If you’re just getting Hivemind Unit #173, why maintain the fiction of local representatives?