Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes to independent MP Helen Haines, who was allegedly struck by a vehicle in her electorate of Indi. Haines is in a serious but stable condition after both legs were amputated. Albanese said rage and aggression against politicians are increasing, enabled by social media. Politicians and advocates say female representatives face growing online abuse and intimidation. A survey by Women for Election found half of women in elected office were unsure they would run again.
Federal parliament suspended normal business on Monday to pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines after a man allegedly hit her with his car in a targeted attack in Wangaratta. Police say the attack left her with severe injuries, and both of her legs were later amputated. MPs across parties praised her calm, kindness and commitment to civility in politics. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country must find a better way to argue, while others called for a conversation about regional mental health services.
This Green Left Radio segment, titled with a focus on Sarah Hathway's remarks about right-wing hypocrisy over an attack on Helen Haines, is presented as an audio discussion. The available text, however, is mainly a fundraising appeal from Green Left asking readers and supporters to contribute. It offers digital and print subscription levels and a phone line for donations. It does not supply the substance of Hathway's comments or detail the nature of the attack on Haines, so the specific claims made in the interview cannot be confirmed from this material alone.
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Fellow MPs in Canberra have paid emotional tributes to Helen Haines, who had both legs amputated after an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Independent MP Monique Ryan said a man drove at Helen, while others ran to help and saved her life. Several MPs called for action on violence and abuse, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying rage and aggression are rising in politics and across public-facing work. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek described violence as an ugly, dangerous dead end for democracy.
Independent MP Zali Steggall and Liberal MP Julian Leeser have accused Opposition Leader Angus Taylor of not reading the room in his speech about Helen Haines. Taylor said the alleged attack on Haines was unfathomable, and he disagreed with any link between parliamentary debate and violence. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Haines in parliament, calling her a fighter. Haines has been granted leave of absence until at least the end of the sitting year.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has said an attack on Indi MP Helen Haines should not deter young women from pursuing careers in politics. Raising the issue during Question Time, she addressed concerns about violence directed at women and public officials. Plibersek argued that women in public life cannot step aside and leave the field to those who would intimidate them. The remarks came during a day of rolling coverage, which included a list of key events and a filterable feed of posts.
Parliament returns this week without independent MP Helen Haines, who was struck by a car outside her Wangaratta office. Police are treating the incident as a deliberate attack, and both her legs have since been amputated. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to move a motion allowing MPs to offer messages of support. Security has been increased across public areas of Parliament House, and MPs have backed calls for a civility pledge.
A Sydney family endured a harrowing ordeal when masked assailants set fire to their car and fired multiple shots at their Moorebank residence. The incident, occurring just before 2:30am, involved a group of men who threatened the occupants before opening fire. A neighbour attempted to intervene as the attackers doused the vehicle in accelerant. Fortunately, the 32-year-old woman and seven children inside the home escaped unharmed. Police are investigating potential links to a separate arson incident in Bankstown and the woman's association with a luxury car rental business.
A senior minister says parliamentarians have long expected an attack like the one on independent MP Helen Haines. Dr Haines was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office, and both her legs were amputated. She was in a serious but stable condition at Melbourne's Alfred hospital on Sunday morning. Victoria Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, who was arrested at the scene and remanded in custody. Cabinet minister Catherine King said abuse toward politicians has increased through emails, phone systems and face-to-face encounters.
Police arrested 43-year-old Brendan Nugent on Monday and charged him with attacking federal MP Helen Haines, a long-time friend of his family. Nugent's home is on the edge of Tarrawingee, a town of about 400 people near Wangaratta. Residents say he was not part of the community and had caused disturbances from the property. Police are investigating a reported rift in the family, and the alleged attack on Ms Haines is being examined as possibly an attack on that family. Nugent's next court appearance is in February.
Communities across the nation have held candlelight vigils in support of independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs after she was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon. She is in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred. Constituent Brendan Nugent was arrested at the scene and remains before the courts. The Rural City of Wangaratta lit its town beacon amber for the vigil. Haines's staff said more than $730,000 had been raised for Save the Children Australia in her honour.
Australians have lit candles at 8pm AEDT to show support for independent MP Helen Haines, four days after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. The Wangaratta Beacon has been lit in amber as part of the vigil. Vigils were also held in Lismore, NSW. The Alfred hospital says Ms Haines, 65, remains in critical condition, and her husband revealed both her legs were amputated. Police allege the attack was deliberate by Brendan Nugent, 43, who has been transferred to Melbourne in custody ahead of a February hearing.
Victoria Police will equip frontline officers with tourniquets after bystanders used their own medical equipment to help independent MP Helen Haines, who was allegedly attacked in Wangaratta. Jacob Evans said police had no tourniquets to offer when he and his partner asked for them. Police have since handed out 2000 tourniquet kits to officers from January 1, including general duties and highway patrol officers. Haines is recovering at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne after losing both legs. Her husband Phil asked for support for Save the Children, which has raised more than $400,000 in 24 hours.
Victoria Police say a reported rift between Brendan Nugent and his family is one line of inquiry in the attack on federal MP Helen Haines. Commissioner Mike Bush said every line of inquiry remains open. He said Mr Nugent's father and the father's partner have been helpful to the investigation. Haines remains in a critical condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne. Police are also reviewing security for politicians ahead of the Victorian state election on November 28.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has called on Energy Minister Chris Bowen to resign following the latest cost blowout on the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project. Taylor has also rejected claims that he underestimated the project's likely expense when he backed it in 2019. The live coverage gathered the day's developments and reactions from the political debate, though the exact revised cost figures and the government's formal response are not clearly detailed in the available material.
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Many women in Australia say they feel unsafe and traumatised after federal MP Helen Haines was attacked in Wangaratta on Monday. Police allege 43-year-old Brendan Nugent ran her down outside her electoral office. He has been charged with multiple offences, including harming a Commonwealth official and drug charges. His motive is unclear. Haines remains in hospital in a critical condition. Experts say the attack has heightened fear, and that media reporting of violence against women is one of the few ways women learn about the risks they face.
Phil Haines thanked surgeons, nurses and bystanders at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Wednesday. His wife, Helen Haines, lost both legs after an alleged attack on Monday afternoon. Governor-General Sam Mostyn urged Australians to practise decency. Bystander Ricky Jefferies secured the alleged attacker. At a vigil in Wodonga, Cathy McGowan called on the community not to let violence win and said the attack was an attack on democracy.
Staff of independent MP Helen Haines say they are devastated and that being close to the incident has been deeply traumatic for the team. Haines remains in a critical condition at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, and her husband Phil says she is alive and stable. Brendan Nugent has been charged over the incident, which police allege happened outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Nugent did not apply for bail and remains in custody. His next court appearance is set for 4 February 2027.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn has urged Australians to show decency after the alleged attack on Helen Haines. Mostyn visited Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, where Haines' husband Phil said her second leg had been amputated. Haines remains in a critical but stable condition after Brendan Nugent allegedly drove a vehicle at her outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Nugent faces charges including dangerous driving and intentionally causing serious injury. He is due back in court on February 4.
Phil Haines has spoken publicly for the first time since a car struck his wife, independent MP Helen Haines, outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. He said both of her legs have been amputated and that her recovery would be long and difficult. Doctors at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne are treating her for critical injuries. Governor-General Sam Mostyn urged Australians to debate with greater civility. Former MP Cathy McGowan called on voters to call out bad behaviour, and a vigil was planned in Wodonga.
