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.
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.
Brendan Nugent has been charged over an alleged deliberate ramming of independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta. Police say he has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Nugent remains in custody. Dr Haines remains in a serious but stable condition in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after both legs were amputated. Video obtained by Nine News shows Nugent's 2022 arrest after a standoff with police in Wangaratta, where he was tasered and later released without charges. The Australian Federal Police say the motive is still under investigation.
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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.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition after being struck by a vehicle on Monday. Brendan Nugent faces multiple charges after allegedly striking her with his four-wheel drive outside her Victorian electoral office. The incident has prompted women in public life to speak about threats they have received. Former MP Kylea Tink says she received death and rape threats during her campaign. Former ACTU secretary Sally McManus says she called police four times over threats during her public leadership role.
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.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in serious but stable condition, improved from critical, after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Melbourne's Alfred Hospital provided the update on Saturday. Her legs have been amputated. Police allege the incident was a deliberate attack by a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, who has been charged with several offences. He appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Her husband, Phil Haines, said the family is grateful she is alive. The investigation is ongoing.
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.
Tony Barry and George Megalogenis discuss the response to the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines this week. The prime minister urged everyone to turn the temperature down, but many quickly raised it again, particularly online. The discussion asks whether politicians from all sides can tell their supporters to tone down their rhetoric. It also looks at what history can teach people about navigating toxic public debate.
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.
Staff of independent MP Helen Haines say they have been moved by public kindness as they prepare to reopen her electorate offices. Haines remains in critical condition after a car allegedly struck her outside her Wangaratta office on Monday, and both her legs were amputated. Brendan Nugent, 43, is accused of deliberately driving into her. A charity appeal in her honour has raised more than $730,000. Police, federal agencies and state leaders are reviewing security for politicians, and parliamentarians in several states have received briefings.
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has been nominated for a 2026 Global Trailblazer Award. The award, given by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, honours LGBTQ+ leaders outside the United States. Greenwich is recognised for leading Australia's marriage equality campaign and passing the Equality Bill in NSW Parliament. He has also passed more legislation than any other non-government member in the history of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Public voting closes on 30 October, 2026.
Independent MP Helen Haines was struck by a car on Monday in what police allege was a deliberate attack outside her electorate office. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks with Haines's friend and former parliamentary colleague Zoe Daniel. Daniel, the former MP for Goldstein, says Haines played a pivotal role in the breakthrough of the teal independents at the 2022 election. Daniel also reported as a foreign correspondent during Donald Trump's first term and warns that some dangerous forces at play in the United States are visible in Australia too.
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.
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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.
A candlelight vigil will be held at Johnston Park in Geelong at 8pm on Friday 23 October in support of independent MP Helen Haines. The event follows an alleged attack outside her electoral office in Wangaratta on Monday. City Hall will be lit up in solidarity. Her husband, Phil, said both of her legs were amputated but that she is in stable condition. City of Greater Geelong councillor Emma Sinclair said the vigil aims to highlight violence against women in public roles.
