Independent MP Helen Haines remains in hospital in a 'critical but stable' condition after being allegedly rammed twice by a 4x4 in rural Victoria, home affairs minister Tony Burke has confirmed.
The 65-year-old was hit while placing items in the boot of her own car on Monday afternoon (October 19), allegedly being pinned between the two vehicles. After bystanders intervened, she was airlifted from Wangaratta to a Melbourne hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery overnight.
Arrest and Investigation
A 43-year-old man from nearby Tarrawingee has been arrested and remains in custody. Police have cordoned off the area outside Ms Haines' office.
Mr Burke described how events reportedly unfolded: "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."
Bystander Speaks Out
The bystander who intervened has been named as barber Ricky Jefferies, whose shop is next door to Haines' office. He recalled the scene to journalists on Tuesday: "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."
Jefferies 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." He also said he 'took [a knife] out of his pocket and threw it away'.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called Jefferies a 'hero', a label Jefferies disagreed with, saying: "I don't think I'm a hero, I'm just somebody who had the opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish way. I was just trying to not get injured and not let anyone else be injured after the initial incident."
Political Reaction
Mr Albanese said the incident 'was not an accident' but added 'the motivation is not clear at this time'. Ms Haines has been an independent MP since she was elected.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason, who personally thanked Jefferies for his actions, also called for any witnesses to come forward to police or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
