Independent MP Helen Haines loses leg after being repeatedly hit by car in ‘deliberate’ attack
Federal independent MP Helen Haines is believed to have lost her leg after being repeatedly hit by a car in what’s been described as a deliberate attack outside her electorate office in regional Victoria.
The 43-year-old driver of a white Toyota Landcruiser was detained by bystanders and later arrested on Murphy Street in Wangaratta about 3.35pm on Monday. Police said they seized a knife from the vehicle.
Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines. Alex Ellinghausen
It’s understood the driver had made a sharp U-turn to hit Haines, pinning her to her car, before allegedly reversing and ramming her again.
Haines was flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne with critical injuries, where she has undergone successful surgery but remains in critical condition.
She has lost one of her legs on Tuesday, 9News understands.
The driver has been named as Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old from Tarrawingee, whose apparent social media account reveals he was a passionate climate activist and had online interactions with Haines as far back as 2019.
An X account bearing Nugent’s name replied to a post made by Haines in 2019. Supplied
No charges have been laid but the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, comprising the Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has been activated to investigate.
In a statement on Tuesday, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the suspect could potentially be charged with causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Barrett met with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll on Tuesday.
Albanese told Today he had spoken with Haines’ husband and passed on his “very warm and best thoughts” for her full recovery.
Image of accused Helen Haines attacker Brendan Nugent during his arrest on Monday afternoon. Wangaratta Chronicle/Bailey Zimmermann.
“I think all Australians will be thinking of her today, and her local community, particularly, will be quite distraught at this news of a terrible event occurring there in Wangaratta,” he said.
“Helen is much loved in that local community. She, of course, is loved by her family and her many friends as well, and they’ll be going through a difficult day today.”
Albanese said the attack appeared to be “deliberate”, earlier telling the ABC the driver had done a sharp U-turn to hit Haines.
Burke told the ABC witnesses saw the car pin Haines against her own car, reverse and hit her a second time before a bystander pulled the driver from the front seat.
The prime minister refused to speculate on the driver’s alleged motivation or previous contact with authorities.
Instead, he praised the actions of a hero barber who jumped in to help Haines.
“At this dark and terrible time, an element of light is the fact that a good Samaritan, someone rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta, put themselves potentially at risk by doing so, and that person is a hero today,” he said.
“I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention.”
Helen Haines MP was struck by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office and is being treated at The Alfred hospital. Jason South
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said police were not aware of any specific threats to Haines before Monday.
Mason added there was nothing to indicate the driver and victim were known to each other.
“I can provide some assurance to the community that we certainly do not have any intelligence that there is any further or ongoing threat to any other person or the broader community,” Mason said.
Security footage obtained by 9News appears to show a white Toyota Landcruiser near Haines’ office before the alleged attack.
CCTV shows a white Toyota Landcruiser near the office of Helen Haines. 9News
Haines’ family called for privacy and for people to “keep Helen in your thoughts”.
“This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta electorate office, and is receiving medical care,” they said in a statement on Monday.
“We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response.”
Haines was moments away from interview
The independent had been near her car and preparing to head into her office for an interview with the ABC on Monday afternoon when she was struck by the Toyota.
“I’m personally quite affected by this story because the reason she was unpacking her car, as has been reported, is that she was making her way into her office to do a Zoom interview with my programme,” ABC host Patricia Karvelas said.
Haines had been set to speak about the National Anti-Corruption Commission, a body she had fought for politically, after a new commissioner was named earlier today.
But her office called the ABC to inform the broadcaster that something had happened.
“There’s been something very serious that’s happened. She cannot come on,” her office told the ABC.
Independent member for Indi, MP Helen Haines at her office. Simon Dallinger
Politicians unite behind Haines
Right across party lines, federal politicians came out in droves with an outpouring of support and praise for the member for Indi.
“There’s a reason why Helen Haines is so loved and admired because she’s someone of integrity,” Albanese said on Monday.
“She's someone who treats everyone with respect, and she's someone who is a beacon of light for that community there in Northern Victoria.”
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor united with the prime minister with a message against political violence.
"This is a shocking day for our nation. No one should be targeted in this way," he said.
"Australians will be angry and appalled by the attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.
"Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised.”
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he was “deeply appalled by this violent attack”.
“My thoughts - and the thoughts of all Victorians - are with Helen, her family, her friends, her colleagues and her community,” he said.
“I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents.”
Police investigate the incident outside Haines’ electorate office. 9News
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson was “horrified and saddened” to learn that Haines had been injured and wished her a “full and speedy” recovery.
Greens Leader David Shoebridge said he was “horrified” and wished the “extraordinary human being” a complete recovery.
Haines’ fellow independent senators and MPs joined the chorus, with Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, Kooyong MP Monique Ryan and ACT Senator David Pocock describing her as the “best of us”.
“I heard this through text messages with some of my other crossbench colleagues, and what was the overarching message was that Helen’s the best of us,” Spender told 7.30.
“Helen Haines is the very best of people. She’s respected and loved by every person in our parliament,” Ryan said.
“Helen is the very best of us. Helen represents so much of the values we share as Australians,” Pocock said.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters also shared his support to Haines as the incident made headlines in the US, the UK and the world over.
Tony Burke and Anthony Albanese speak to the press after Helen Haines was attacked outside her Wangaratta office. Ben Grubb
Calls to ‘turn that temperature down’
The alleged attack sparked questions about MP safety and the ferocity of recent political discussion.
Albanese said there had been “too much shouting, not enough discourse, not enough polite conversation and disagreement”.
“I do think that we need people in positions [of power] need to join in the call to turn that temperature down,” he told 7.30.
“We can have political debate in a respectful way. We can have differences.
“They should be debated out in a democracy, but they shouldn’t be the subject of personal rancour and the calling into people’s motivation where it’s not appropriate to do so.”
The prime minister had been calling for social cohesion for some time and warned of the potential for a political tragedy months ago.
“What I don’t want to do is to have a press conference in this courtyard after a tragedy,” he said in June.
There have been 1067 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against various high office holders in the most recent financial year, up from 951 the year before, according to Home Affairs.
Just a few days ago, Multicultural Minister Anne Aly revealed she had received 19 death threats in one week after a fellow parliamentarian called for her to be “shamed and stoned”.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie told the ABC on Tuesday she has received death threats herself, adding that female politicians are seen as “fair game”.
Spender called for politicians to change their approach, saying, “We do not lead by example now in terms of how we discuss, how we speak, how we behave in parliament”.
A white Toyota Landcruiser was seen at the scene following the alleged attack. 9News
What does it mean for security measures?
It’s still too early to say whether the incident will force changes to MPs’ security arrangements and how they interact with voters.
The federal government will take advice on security matters from the Australian Federal Police.
Albanese acknowledged there had been an increase in threats made to politicians but said it was important to maintain engagement with the community.
Helen Haines was elected in 2019. Nine
“I think it’s very important in a democracy such as ours that we cherish the fact that people can get out and about at community events, go to their local shops, engage at the local footy or netball courts on the side, engage with people,” he told Today on Monday.
“That’s an important part of who we are as Australians.
“That’s a good thing. We can’t afford to lose that. If we lose that, we lose something very important about who we are.”
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