Federal Parliament paused on Monday to pay tribute to Indi MP Helen Haines, who is recovering in a Melbourne hospital. Police allege Brendan Nugent, 43, drove a four-wheel-drive into her as she collected items from her car outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for lower temperatures in political debate, warning of rising rage and aggression. Opposition leader Angus Taylor described the attack as a national tragedy. Politicians across parties spoke about threats against MPs and their staff, and a donation page in her name had raised more than $1.2 million.
Federal MPs paid emotional tributes to independent Helen Haines in the House of Representatives after she was seriously injured in an alleged vehicle attack outside her Wangaratta office. Haines has lost both legs, and her condition is now described as serious. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor both spoke of hoping she will return to parliament. Albanese warned that rising anger and division in public life must not be ignored, while Taylor rejected any link between robust debate and violence.
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.
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MPs paid tribute to Indi MP Helen Haines in parliament on Monday after an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office. Allegra Spender said Haines's first concerns after waking were for her staff, and thanked first responders, nurses and bystanders. Haines is in a serious but stable condition after the attack, which led to the loss of both legs. A 43-year-old man has been charged, and the incident remains under investigation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned of rising anger in public life, and Haines has been granted leave until 26 November.
Parliament resumed with independent MPs paying emotional tributes to Helen Haines, one week after an alleged attack left her losing both legs. An orange cockatoo sat on her empty seat in the lower house. Zali Steggall described Haines as the matriarch of the crossbench and praised her calm, kind approach to debate. Monique Ryan said politicians had quickly returned to partisan fighting and called for more respectful debate, digital protections and truth in political advertising.
Pauline Hanson says her Please Explain cartoons will stay on air, rejecting calls to pull them as federal MPs prepared to honour independent MP Helen Haines after an attack on her. Hanson accused Labor and the Coalition of using the tragedy to silence critics, arguing free speech and satire must be protected. The cartoons have drawn criticism for repeatedly labelling Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a traitor and mocking Senator Jacqui Lambie's health. Separately, donations to Save the Children in Dr Haines's honour have passed $919,000, and some MPs are signing a voluntary civility pledge.
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.
Parliament will pause to pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, a week after she was allegedly struck by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to move a motion setting aside much of Monday for colleagues to offer messages of support. Haines remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, and both her legs have been amputated. A fundraiser set up by her family for Save the Children had passed $1.2 million by Monday morning. Police are investigating a potential motive, and a suspect has been named in media reports.
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.
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.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will lead tributes to Independent MP Helen Haines when Federal Parliament returns on Monday, a week after an alleged attack on her in Wangaratta. Police allege Brendan Nugent, 43, rammed her with a Toyota LandCruiser before bystanders pulled him from the driver's seat. Haines is in a serious but stable condition after surgeries in Melbourne, and her husband says both legs were amputated. A fundraiser in her name for Save the Children has passed $1.1 million. Politicians have called for more care in public language, while police say the motive remains under investigation.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says political language and behaviour directly influences threats against elected representatives. Her comments follow an alleged deliberate attack on Indi MP Helen Haines, who was struck by a vehicle in Wangaratta on Monday and suffered serious injuries. Barrett said police are charging almost one offender a week with threatening a parliamentarian or high office holder. She said threats against female politicians are often sexual and more personal. Authorities are still investigating the motive, and the matter is before the courts.
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.
Independent MP Helen Haines has been downgraded to serious but stable after losing both legs in an alleged attack in north-east Victoria. A spokesperson for The Alfred hospital in Melbourne gave the update on Saturday morning. Police have charged Brendan Nugent, 43, from Tarrawingee with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a commonwealth public official. Police have also charged him with cultivating and possessing cannabis. Nugent appeared in court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail.
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The Alfred Hospital says federal MP Helen Haines is in a serious but stable condition, her first improvement since the incident. Haines, 65, suffered critical injuries on October 19 when she was allegedly struck by a LandCruiser outside her office in Wangaratta. Both her legs were amputated in an effort to save her life. Police allege the attack was deliberate and say 43-year-old Brendan Nugent faces several charges. Her husband Phil described her as a fighter. A fundraiser set up for her has raised almost $1 million.
The condition of Indi MP Helen Haines has improved from critical to serious but stable, the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne said on Saturday. Ms Haines was struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday. Police allege the incident was a deliberate attack by 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, who faces multiple charges. Ms Haines lost both legs, and her husband Phil Haines said he was grateful her heart and mind were in good shape. Save the Children Australia said more than $1 million had been donated in her honour.
Young voters in the Indi electorate have spoken about how independent MP Helen Haines has shaped their lives. Artist Frankie Carroll, now studying in the UK, has produced a comic series sharing their experience with Ms Haines, who made them feel heard, valued and safe after the Wangaratta Rainbow Ball was cancelled over security concerns. Mansfield's Connor McFadden said Ms Haines remembered him when they met again in Canberra and genuinely cares about people's lives. Carroll said they hope to see more empathy and tolerance in politics following Monday's attack.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has declined to say whether the Coalition has also circulated dirt sheets on fellow politicians. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces criticism after his office circulated one about independent MP Helen Haines weeks before she was allegedly rammed with a vehicle near her electoral office. Dr Haines remains in critical but stable condition in hospital, and a man has been accused of the attack. Politicians across the spectrum have expressed anger and concern for safety, and Labor is considering stronger home security and police protections for parliamentarians.
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.
