Cootamundra MP Katrina Hodgkinson is starting to learn how true that is.

Ms Hodgkinson, who courageously defied her own party by crossing the floor in August to protest the greyhound ban, was dumped from a senior role for daring to stand up for her constituents.

Natural justice dictated she be returned to the role when Premier Mike Baird reversed the greyhound ban last week.

But there was no political resurrection.

In an act of bastardry, NSW Nationals leader Troy Grant refused to reinstate his colleague.

Her sin, apparently, was one of betrayal.

Ms Hodgkinson put principles before politics and was punished, despite the fact the government ultimately agreed with her view and despite the fact Mr Grant said he was “proud” of the MP when she made her initial stand.

It may be true that governments can only operate effectively if all members row in the same direction, but MPs are elected to represent a seat.

And if a government decision is as damaging to that seat as the greyhound ban would have been to Cootamundra, the MP has a moral obligation to put their constituents first.

The decision to keep Ms Hodgkinson in the doghouse sends a dangerous message to other MPs and, indeed, sets a dangerous precedent for the entire democratic process.

The whole saga also reveals just how hogtied the Nationals are to the Liberals in NSW.

If Mr Grant really was “proud” of Ms Hodgkinson for her stand, he would have pushed to have her reinstated, rather than rolled over like a kitten.

Criticising politicians is a newspaper editor’s stock-in-trade. 

But giving credit where it’s due is just as important.

Ms Hodgkinson should be commended for showing great courage and invoking the independent spirit of other Nationals, not punished.

She remains magnanimous in defeat, but she must be privately seething at the decision.

Like a child scalded, she must now behave herself or risk forever being left to languish on the backbench.

Although the way this government is headed, she would probably be better off running as an independent.