The independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, is in a critical but stable condition after an alleged targeted attack in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, where she lost one leg and surgeons are fighting to save the other.
Haines, 65, was airlifted from Wangaratta to Melbourne's Alfred hospital for emergency surgery on Monday night after being struck by a car. On Tuesday, surgeons were working to save her other leg, with the MP remaining in a critical condition.
Alleged attacker charged
A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene. He was charged on Tuesday night with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Nugent is expected to appear at Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday.
Victoria Police confirmed in a statement that they would allege the attack was targeted. The man allegedly made a U-turn before ramming Haines twice near her electorate office.
Witness accounts and community response
Home affairs minister Tony Burke said witnesses described the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and ram Haines against a vehicle, then reversing and doing it a second time. A bystander ran towards the scene, got the driver out of the vehicle, and held him until police arrived.
Ricky Jefferies, whose barbershop is next door to Haines' office, ran to help after hearing the crash. "I had no choice but to take him out of the car because it was the right and safest thing to do," he told reporters. Jefferies alleged the driver had a knife on him, which he took from his pocket and threw away.
Political reaction and security concerns
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed authorities believed the attack was deliberate. "Helen Haines represents the best of our political representatives," he said. "Kind, compassionate, a person of integrity, totally committed to strongly representing the people of that beautiful part of Victoria."
Nugent's father, Rod Nugent, and Rod's partner, Christine Cunningham, said in a statement that Haines had been their friend for more than 20 years. "What happened to her yesterday is devastating and unfathomable," they said. "We will be assisting Victoria Police in any way we can."
Burke said security agencies and police would be working through what more could have been done to prevent the alleged attack. He reported that there had been 1,067 reports of harassment or threats against high office holders in Australia in the last financial year, up from 951 the year before.
Wangaratta mayor Irene Grant expressed gratitude to Jefferies for his actions. "He was extraordinarily modest about the very brave action that he took yesterday," she said.
Haines was elected to federal parliament in 2019 and has been key to the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as campaigning for rural health services and telecommunications access.
