Federal MPs have expressed support for Helen Haines, the Member for Indi, following an incident outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Mary Aldred, the Member for Monash, spoke in Parliament and sent her love and prayers to Dr Haines and her family. Ms Aldred also called for a better integrated approach to parliamentary security. She raised concerns about a mental health crisis in regional Australia and said the threats and abuse faced by public figures must be addressed.
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.
Williamstown in South Australia has been named the most budget-friendly day trip in a national affordability index. A day out for two people costs about $66.04, excluding accommodation. The study by car insurance provider ROLLiN' assessed 73 regional destinations on fuel, food, entry fees and attraction costs. McLaren Vale ranked first for overall value, while Geelong, Wollongong, Katoomba and Kalamunda rounded out the top five. Williamstown is about 20 minutes' drive from Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield, a restaurant in the state's Michelin Guide.
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Tamworth marketing agency c7even has launched The Voice of Region, a national survey of people living and working outside Australia's capital cities. The survey asks about confidence in regional communities, the biggest challenges people face, how they make decisions and where they get news. Managing Partner Adam Arndell said regional audiences should not be treated as one group. The findings will feed into c7even's audience intelligence system, and the survey will be repeated annually to track changes. The survey takes under 10 minutes, and participants can enter a draw to win one of five $100 fuel cards.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in hospital with critical lower body injuries after being hit by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident a deliberate attack. The ABC has confirmed she has lost a leg, and surgeons are working to save the other. A 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, has been taken into custody. Haines, a former nurse, was the first independent to succeed another independent in the seat of Indi. Her family has thanked bystanders, health workers and police for their response.
Margo Villa began helping care for her younger brother, who has autism, when she was five years old. Her mother, Krisma Villa, says the help was vital when other support was unavailable. An estimated one in 10 young people in Australia qualify as young carers, yet many are overlooked. A study in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found two-thirds of young carers experienced extreme mental health challenges. Little Dreamers founder Maddy Buchner says young carers in regional areas face particular barriers to services and isolation.
Advocates warn that small-town post offices need protection as ageing licensees and shifting community needs threaten their future. A Senate inquiry into Australia Post's retail network will report back this month. In Tarpeena, South Australia, the local post office closed in 2022, leaving the nearest one 20 kilometres away. Licensed post offices make up about two-thirds of the network, and 38 per cent of their owners are aged 60 or older. Australia Post says it is committed to serving regional communities and is reviewing the LPO model with licensees.
Toyota Australia says diesel still plays a strong role in the country, even as hybrid and electric vehicle sales grow. Diesel sales have slumped 25.5 per cent year-on-year to the end of September 2026, and diesel's market share has fallen to 24.3 per cent. Toyota Australia sales vice-president John Pappas said many customers in regional and rural areas still need diesel vehicles as a tool of trade or for long distances and towing. Toyota said nearly 54 per cent of its combined HiLux and LandCruiser family is bought and used outside major metropolitan cities.
