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 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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says heated political debate is directly linked to threats against parliamentarians. Speaking on the ABC's Insiders program, she said the threat environment has worsened, with a daily report listing threats made to the AFP. Security at Parliament House is being reassessed after a car ramming attack on independent MP Helen Haines in her Wangaratta electorate. Dr Haines has had both legs amputated and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. Police say a man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged over the incident, and investigators are working to establish a possible motive.
Police are investigating after Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke found a bullet on his car on Saturday. The bullet was inscribed with the word RAT and his old firefighter number. Mr Edbrooke called it a death threat and said he had reported it to police. The United Firefighters Union condemned the threat and asked police to find the person responsible. Union secretary Peter Marshall later questioned whether the bullet had been placed on the car at all. Victoria Police said its Security Investigation Unit is investigating.
The Municipal Association of Victoria has recognised long-serving councillors through its 2026 MAV Councillor Service Awards. MAV President Jennifer Anderson said recipients should be proud of their leadership and commitment to residents. She said the role is demanding and often done as a second job or alongside family care. Awards were presented at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30-year service levels, plus a Mayor Emeritus Award. The association said the recipients have left a lasting mark on communities across the state.
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.
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.
Australia's federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, says heated political rhetoric is fuelling threats and abuse against politicians. Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a serious but stable condition in Melbourne after an alleged deliberate attack outside her Wangaratta office. Barrett said threats are often reported daily, with women more often targeted with threats of sexual violence. Federal MPs say balancing security with community access is difficult. Labor minister Catherine King said attacks had been expected for years.
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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.
Australia's federal police commissioner has linked heated political rhetoric directly to threats and abuse aimed at politicians. Independent MP Helen Haines was allegedly run down by a four-wheel-drive outside her Wangaratta electoral office on Monday, and both her legs were amputated. She remains in a serious but stable condition in Melbourne. Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the daily threat reports are often pages long and that women MPs are more often targeted with threats of sexual violence. Federal MPs say they are weighing personal security against contact with voters.
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.
