What you need to know about the attack outside Haines’ office
Indi MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, just after 3.30pm yesterday.
- Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent has been arrested and remains in custody after police allege he struck the 65-year-old MP with a Toyota LandCruiser in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said was a deliberate attack. The 43-year-old is still custody.
- Haines suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Melbourne for treatment, where she remains in a critical condition.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said witnesses to the alleged attack saw a vehicle conduct a U-turn to ram Haines against a vehicle, before reversing and hitting her a second time.
- Albanese said it was too early to determine the alleged attacker’s motive as the incident is investigated by several agencies, including counterterrorism teams.
We will continue to bring you live updates on this unfolding story here on our rolling blog.
Victorian state MP had vehicle scare days before Haines
A car was driven towards an MP campaigning as part of Victoria’s state election just two days before the Haines incident, police have confirmed.
But officers also say that that incident, in Port Melbourne on Saturday, is not believed to be an intentional act.
Victoria opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier was appearing in the inner Melbourne suburb with the local candidate, when a car mounted the curb about 11.30am. No one was physically injured.
“The incident is not believed to be an intentional act and is potentially driver error,” police said. “An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”
A campaign spokesperson for the Liberals said they did not want the incident to detract from the events in Wangaratta.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain firmly with Dr Helen Haines, her family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
McKenzie says personal political attacks foster dangerous environment
Nationals senator in Victoria and leader in the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, whose electorate neighbours Helen Haines’, said on ABC radio she received many death threats, including a “very horrific one” that staff encouraged her to report to the AFP.
“It’s increasing, not decreasing,” McKenzie said on 774 ABC Radio Melbourne.
“People that denigrate politicians of all colours just put them all in the basket as being the problem with our society. I mean, that’s the issue. Everybody, no matter where they come from in parliament, left or right, is doing their very, very best to make our country the best. We disagree on the way to do it.
“I think personal attacks, you know, are how that sort of normalises this type of discussion. We’ve got to stop normalising antisemitism, normalising denigrating politicians, call it out because we lose our civility and our respectfulness.”
McKenzie pointed to the United Kingdom, where two female MPs were murdered – Jo Cox from the Labour Party in 2016, and Ann Widdecombe from the Conservative Party in July.
Suspect contacted office of Wangaratta’s other MP
As Wangaratta’s federal MP Helen Haines continues to recover in a Melbourne hospital, her state counterpart says the man accused of hitting her with his car previously contacted his office.
Tim McCurdy, the Nationals MP for the state seat of Ovens Valley, told 3AW that Brendan Nugent had been in contact with his electoral office.
McCurdy added that this contact did not involve threats.
“Not down that path, but he’s known to our office as well. So I don’t know whether he’s frequented Helen’s office or not. I’m not clear about that, but he’s been in touch with our office over the journey. So he’s known to us.”
McCurdy said he wasn’t planning to take any extra safety precautions following the Haines incident. “You can’t help, I suppose, think about these circumstances. And, you know, being a bloke walking around a rural town, I don’t feel threatened at all. But I know there are women colleagues in this role who sometimes can feel threatened. And I hear what they’re saying, and we understand that. And we have to address how we can help them to feel safer and be safer by just doing their job.”
Haines attack makes headlines in USA, UK, Italy and beyond
Word of the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines yesterday has made headlines across the world, as major news outlets including The New York Times and the Times of London report on the incident.
The New York Times reported an “Australian lawmaker injured after attack”, while the Times of London quoted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying Haines was “deliberately” struck by a vehicle.
Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera highlighted the arrest of a 43-year-old man in Wangaratta, and the activation of Australia’s counterterrorism squad to investigate the alleged attack. Singapore’s Straits Times published a profile on the 65-year-old independent MP.
French national newspapers Le Figaro and Le Monde, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Canadian public broadcaster CBC, and the New Zealand Herald are among a host of other foreign media to report on the alleged attack.
‘Do not let this happen here again’: Former New York City mayor pays tribute to Haines
Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is a keynote speaker at the Melbourne Assembly civic forum in Melbourne, hosted by The Age and the University of Melbourne.
He began his address this morning by paying tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, following an alleged targeted attack on her yesterday in regional Victoria.
“This is something that is all too familiar in the United States of America,” de Blasio said of the violent incident.
“Do not let this happen here again. Do not let it happen because what happened in the United States is a precautionary tale.
“I see you as an enlightened nation. I see this as an enlightened city. Do all you can to make this the last time it happens … and let’s all have Helen Haines in our thoughts and prayers.”
MPs to receive further AFP briefings on their safety
Krissy Barrett says parliamentarians are regularly briefed on their safety and security, flagging further briefings to take place following the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines.
“The AFP has regularly publicly outlined concerns about the growing threats against federal parliamentarians and high office holders,” the Australian Federal Police commissioner said in her statement.
“In October 2025, the AFP announced the establishment of National Security Investigations (NSI) Teams, which are a flying squad of hate disrupters who focus on high-harm, high-impact politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that do not meet the threshold for terrorism investigations but drive fear and division,” she said.
Barrett said since the NSI was established, 41 individuals had been charged for offences relating to threats against federal MPs and high office holders.
“The AFP provides regularly briefings to parliamentarians about their safety and security, and further briefings will be undertaken soon. The AFP’s thoughts are with Dr Haines and her family at this time,” she said.
Alleged attacker could face state and federal charges: AFP chief
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says alleged attacker Brendan Nugent may face state and federal charges including the offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
“The investigation into the alleged targeting of Federal Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, is currently being led by the Victoria Police Security Investigation Unit and supported by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT-VIC), which includes Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO,” Barrett said in a statement.
“A man, 43, from Tarrawingee, Victoria, remains in police custody. At this stage, it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are no known threats connected to this matter,” she said.
“Victoria Police and the AFP are working closely together to identify potential charges, which may include state and Commonwealth offences, such as the offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.”
Butcher sharpened knives for man driving same car used in attack
Police have blocked off a driveway believed to lead to the suspect Brendan Nugent’s house, 10 minutes outside Wangaratta in Tarrawingee.
A police vehicle was a seen driving up the road and turning right into the first house on the driveway, before it disappeared behind a tree. An undercover police car, seen last night at the property, was restricting access to a line of media.
Russell, a butcher at Tarra Tender Cuts who didn’t wish to give his last name, said a man driving the same car police identified as the one allegedly used to run into Haines, had dropped in knives to be sharpened.
Katter says he ‘couldn’t sleep’ after Haines attack
Regional independents Bob Katter, Andrew Gee and Rebekha Sharkie have shared messages of concern for their parliamentary colleague Helen Haines, after the alleged attack on the MP in the Victorian town of Wangaratta yesterday.
In a Facebook post, Katter said he “couldn’t sleep last night” as he prayed for his “good and long-term friend Helen”.
“Helen brings sparkle, enlightenment and joy to the centre of the crossbench. My thoughts are also with your family, friends and staff at this extremely difficult time,” Katter said.
Gee said: “Violence in all its forms must be repudiated and condemned. It has no place in Australian political life and it’s extremely concerning that threats and violence against political representatives are increasing.”
Sharkie called Haines a “much-loved friend and colleague”, saying she was “shocked and deeply saddened by what’s happened”.
The four MPs regularly appear alongside each other at parliament, advocating for issues faced by regional Australians.
ASIO head warns of ‘violent rhetoric’
Mike Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has warned about “violent rhetoric in public discourse”, as he said the current “temperature and trajectory of the security environment” was concerning.
“I acknowledge the horrific attack on Helen Haines and our thoughts are with Helen, her family and loved ones, and also those who responded yesterday,” Burgess said in a statement this morning.
The National Terrorism Threat Level remains at PROBABLE, but the temperature and trajectory of the security environment are concerning.
Elevated levels of grievance, intolerance and polarisation continue to create a permissive environment of violence.
I have repeatedly put on the record my concern about the use of violent rhetoric in public discourse.
Words matter.
While political differences, debates and peaceful protests are essential parts of a healthy democracy, ASIO has seen direct correlations between inflamed language, inflamed tensions and acts of violence.
Disagreement is okay but acts of violence and intimidation are not – especially against those democratically chosen to represent us.
By all means disagree but consider how you disagree. By all means protest but consider how you protest. By all means criticise elected officials but consider how you criticise elected officials.
This incident occurred in an environment where politically motivated violence is more likely than previous years.
I genuinely believe the temperature of our security environment would be several degrees lower if we recommitted to conversing with civility, debating with respect and disagreeing with restraint.
We must take these threats seriously, protect those being targeted and defend Australians’ right to share their points of view in a peaceful way.
ASIO and our partners in law enforcement will continue to work around the clock to protect Australia and Australians.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
