Get the appParliament 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.
Parliament will pause its usual business on Monday to pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines. She was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta office last Monday and has had both legs amputated. Her condition is now described as serious but stable at Melbourne's Alfred hospital. Victoria Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a commonwealth public official. Police say the charges may change as investigators examine a motive. Mr Nugent was remanded in custody after appearing in court on Wednesday.
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.
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Get the appOne Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over a reported dirt file on independent MP Helen Haines. The file was reportedly circulated weeks before Dr Haines was struck by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Police allege Brendan Nugent, 43, caused the attack and face several charges, and he is expected to face a committal hearing on February 4, 2027. Dr Haines remains in critical but stable condition at The Alfred, and surgeons amputated both her legs. Mr Albanese did not deny the file and called her a good local member.
Independent MP Helen Haines privately lobbied Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for urgent rural health funding five days before she was allegedly struck by a car outside her electorate office. ABC News understands she gave him a report showing a $2.7 billion funding gap between city and regional areas. Brendan Nugent faces charges including intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. His lawyer told a court that he has mental health concerns and a neurological condition. Ms Haines remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition three days after being struck by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office. The 65-year-old has lost both legs. Her alleged attacker, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, has been charged with three offences and is due back in court on February 4. The alleged motivation remains unknown, and police say investigators will explore every angle. Floral tributes continue to build outside the closed office, and donations to Save the Children Australia have passed $400,000.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in critical condition at a Melbourne hospital more than two days after being struck by a car outside her electorate office in Victoria's north-east. Her husband, Phil, has said she has lost both legs as a result of her injuries. He describes her as a fighter, and her family is hoping for her recovery. Coverage of wellwishers' messages of support is continuing.
Five people have been indicted in Taiwan over an alleged plot to run down comedian Huang Yi-Hao with a car after his shows mocked the Chinese government. Prosecutors in New Taipei say the defendants were hired by a Chinese person and tracked Huang from July, planning to break his limbs so he could not perform. Huang was struck by a car while riding his scooter home last month, leaving him with a bruised pelvis. Two defendants have admitted involvement in the plan. Huang said he had criticised Xi for about two and a half minutes.
A car-ramming attack on independent MP Helen Haines has left her with a leg amputated and doctors fighting to save the other. The attack happened outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Australian Federal Police data shows threats against parliamentarians have risen fourfold since 2020, with 41 people charged over such threats in the past year. Commissioner Krissy Barrett said charges are laid almost every week. A 2025 survey found nearly 9 per cent of Australians said violence was sometimes justified to advance a cause, with younger people more likely to agree.
Brendan James Nugent, 43, appeared in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged over an alleged car attack on independent MP Helen Haines. Dr Haines remains in hospital in a critical condition. Magistrate Allison Vaughan remanded Mr Nugent in custody until the new year, with his next court date set for February 4. Police allege the attack was targeted and have not ruled out further charges. Mr Nugent faces charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury and possession of cannabis.
Federal MPs are calling for tighter security after a car allegedly struck Indi MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Cabinet committees are already meeting on security measures for parliamentarians. Police have charged a 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, with dangerous driving causing serious injury and other offences. Police allege the attack was targeted. Dr Haines remains in critical condition in Melbourne and has lost a leg.
Indi MP Dr Helen Haines is in critical condition after she was struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, and sources say she lost a leg. The 65-year-old was flown to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she underwent surgery overnight. Police allege the SUV made a U-turn, hit her, reversed and struck her again. A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man was arrested and may face charges of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Authorities have not established a motive or any link to Dr Haines, and the AFP says no known threats are connected.
Police have laid charges against a 43-year-old man after independent federal MP Helen Haines was allegedly struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Victoria. Brendan Nugent faces three charges: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Journalists are also speaking with political editors to explain what is known so far.
Police have laid charges against a 43-year-old man after independent federal MP Helen Haines was allegedly struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Victoria. Brendan Nugent faces three charges: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Journalists are also speaking with political editors to explain what is known so far.
Independent federal MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after being hit by a 4WD outside her electoral office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as a deliberate attack, and alleged in that sense. Haines was taken to hospital with severe leg injuries and later flown to Melbourne, where she underwent surgery overnight. Politicians across the political divide have sent statements of support, with Opposition leader Angus Taylor saying political violence must never be accepted as part of public life. Haines represents the seat of Indi in north Victoria.
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Get the appIndependent MP Helen Haines has lost a leg after an alleged attack outside her electorate office. Her alleged attacker has been named as Brendan Nugent. Haines was in critical but stable condition after being rammed twice, according to Burke. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the situation as tragic. The head of Asio has warned about violent rhetoric in public discourse.
Barber Ricky Jefferies says he is no hero after he took a knife from a driver accused of striking independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office. Haines, 65, was pinned between two cars and has lost a leg. She was flown to The Alfred in Melbourne for surgery. A 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested and held overnight. Police have not yet identified a motive. Jefferies praised others who rushed to help, including a man who sat in front of a moving car.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. She has reportedly lost a leg, and surgeons are fighting to save the other. A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody. No charges have been laid, and police are still working to establish a motive. His family said they had been friends with Haines for more than 20 years and were devastated by the attack.