At least nine MPs will have security upgrades for their electorate offices brought forward, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has confirmed. The move follows an alleged attack last Monday on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office. Haines was struck repeatedly by a four-wheel drive and has lost both legs. She remains in a serious but stable condition in a Melbourne hospital, and police are examining the motive. Gallagher also urged social media companies to act on threats posted on their platforms against women in public life.
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.
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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.
Calls for a civility pledge have grown after an alleged vehicle attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said more needed to be done to lower the temperature of political debate. The pledge, led by Compassion in Politics Australia, asks signatories to act with honesty, respect and compassion. A similar pledge was introduced in the United Kingdom after the murder of MP Jo Cox in 2016. Supporters say a more civil culture could help protect politicians and restore public trust in politics.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has been criticised by crossbench MPs Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall over his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines. Ryan called his speech tone deaf, while Steggall said he did not read the room. A 43-year-old man has been charged over the alleged attack, which left Haines losing both legs. Taylor rejected any link between robust parliamentary debate and political violence, and said judges should come down harder on offenders. Steggall said media, election advertising and social media should also take care with their words.
Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has declined to say whether One Nation and the lobby group Advance should tone down their rhetoric after the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines. Instead, a spokesperson for Rinehart criticised the ABC over a satirical segment that depicted an attack on her. Rinehart is the largest funder of both One Nation and Advance. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Advance is an appalling organisation, and that those who fund it are not acting in the cause of social cohesion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Western Australian MPs say hostility toward politicians is growing, with several saying it is becoming harder to stay accessible to voters. The concern follows an alleged attack on federal independent MP Helen Haines, whose motive is not yet clear, and a man charged with threatening staff in state Labor MP Hannah Beazley's office. Police Commissioner Col Blanch urged politicians to look after themselves while remaining part of their communities. The state government announced it will fund security upgrades at MPs' homes, fast-track a security review of Parliament and provide an extra electorate officer.
Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett says investigators have not yet established a motive for the alleged car ramming of independent MP Helen Haines. Police are examining reported mental health concerns and possible political motivations. The accused man, Brendan Nugent, 43, faces charges including dangerous driving and intentionally causing serious injury. Haines remains hospitalised in Melbourne in a serious but stable condition. Barrett acknowledged that gaps in regional mental health care are among several challenges facing police.
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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 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.
Tony Barry and George Megalogenis discuss the response to an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines. The prime minister has urged people to lower the temperature, but the panel asks whether politicians can ask their supporters to tone down hateful rhetoric. They also consider lessons from history for navigating toxic public debate.
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.
