Brendan Nugent named as suspect in alleged attack on MP Helen Haines

Brendan Nugent has been named by multiple outlets as the suspect in the alleged car attack on Australian MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta, Victoria, who remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Police arrested a 43-year-old man on Monday afternoon after 65-year-old MP Helen Haines was reportedly struck by a Toyota LandCruiser 4x4 in Wangaratta, rural Victoria. Officials confirmed it was 'not an accident'.

Alleged deliberate ramming

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."

The suspect has been identified by multiple news outlets as Brendan Nugent, from nearby Tarrawingee. Nugent is understood to be a local activist.

Suspect's background

In the biography section of an account on social media platform X which bears his name, it stated: "Plant person. The world should be run by children and dogs." Melbourne news outlet The Age reported Nugent 'strayed into "darker" things since his days protesting logging in the local forest', according to police sources.

Officers are set to question the suspect on Tuesday morning.

MP's condition and hero barber

Haines remains in hospital in Melbourne in a 'critical but stable condition' following emergency overnight surgery, Mr Burke confirmed.

The incident has thrust Ricky Jefferies, a barber operating next door to Ms Haines' office, into the spotlight. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hailed him a 'hero', while local police chiefs have 'personally thanked' Jefferies for hauling the LandCruiser driver from behind the wheel.

Jefferies spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning. He said: "I heard a loud bang, it was crazy, I just ran out the front to see what was happening. I did what I could and did what others were trying to do."

He added: "The driver was still in the car, the car was still on, and... a man sat in front of the moving car. I had no choice but to take him out of the car because it was the right and safest thing to do." Jefferies also revealed he 'took [a knife] out of his pocket and threw it away'.