Australian independent MP Helen Haines is in hospital in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said appears to have been “a deliberate act”.
The incident in Wangaratta, north-east of Melbourne, happened on Monday afternoon local time.
A man has since faced court on three charges over the alleged attack.
What happened?
The driver allegedly reversed to run into her a second time, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
“What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time,” Burke told national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday morning.
A local barber Ricky Jefferies said he heard a loud commotion and ran towards the car, telling reporters on Tuesday that took a knife off the driver.
He said that multiple people “got involved immediately” to stop the alleged attacker.
Haines was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital where she underwent surgery.
She has lost one of her legs, according to local media, with reports that surgeons are working to save her other leg.
Who is the suspect?
Victoria Police arrested the driver of the car, Brendan Nugent, 43, shortly after the incident.
He was detained at the scene by a passer-by before being taken into custody by officers. A knife was also seized, police said.
On Wednesday, Nugent appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates Court to face three charges: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
Nugent, who lives in the nearby town of Tarrawingee, did not apply for bail and is due back in court in February.
Victoria Police said its investigation remains ongoing.
Nugent reportedly campaigned widely on environmental issues, including advocating against logging.
His family released a statement on Tuesday, saying that they were long-time friends of Haines and that the apparent attack was “devastating and unfathomable”.
Who is Helen Haines?
ReutersHaines is a 65-year-old independent MP for the Indi division in Victoria, south-eastern Australia.
She grew up in the south-west of Victoria on a dairy farm with four brothers before training as a nurse and a midwife.
She became the matron of the Chiltern Bush Nursing Hospital in Victoria when she was 26, before later completing a master’s degree in public health and a PhD in medical science while raising her three children and working, according to her website. She lives with her family on a small cattle farm outside Wangaratta.
The MP was first elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022 and 2025.
‘Our worst nightmare’: Threats to Australian politicians were rising before MP hit by car
Where did the incident happen?
The incident happened outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, a city of about 30,000 people.
Police said she was hit on Murphy Street at about 15:35 local time (05:35 BST) on Monday.
What level of threat is there to Australia’s politicians?
Albanese appeared close to tears during a live television interview on ABC’s 7.30 programme when he was asked if Australian politicians talk among themselves about the threats and risks they face.
“Yes,” he replied, adding: “My concern at this point in time is for one of my colleagues.”
He later described how there had been a “rise in temperature” and “too much shouting, not enough discourse” in Australia.
Speaking in a news conference, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said there had been an increase in reports of harassing and threatening behaviour towards lawmakers in the 2025-26 financial year.
Police say almost one person a week is being charged for making threats against “high office holders” and their staff.
What has the reaction been?
Paying tribute to Haines during a news conference, Albanese described her as “incredibly hard-working”.
“She is fiercely intelligent but most importantly she is just a thoroughly decent human being full of integrity and respected right across the Parliament and from everyone who comes into contact with her”, he added.
He said the attack will come as an “incredible shock” to her community.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the incident as a “shocking and deeply disturbing attack”.
The Premier of Victoria Ben Carroll said he was “deeply appalled” by the “violent attack”.
Meanwhile, Australia’s opposition leader Angus Taylor said he was “deeply saddened and distressed” by the attack.
“This is a shocking day for our nation,” he said. “No-one should be targeted in this way.”
But MPs from a range of political backgrounds have also described feeling deeply concerned about their safety in recent times: wearing disguises in public, locking their office doors, and scanning every crowd for potential threats.
