Who is Brendan Nugent? What we know so far about the alleged attack on Helen Haines

Independent MP Helen Haines has lost one leg and remains in a critical condition after being struck by a four-wheel drive vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, on Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an intentional attack that is being investigated by several agencies, including counter-terrorism teams. Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent, 43, has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Here’s what we know so far.

Who is Helen Haines?

Helen Haines, 65, is the independent federal representative for Indi, a north-east Victorian electorate that stretches up to Wodonga near the NSW border.

Before entering parliament, Haines had a decades-long career in healthcare. She worked as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, publishing dozens of academic articles. She grew up on a dairy farm in Eurack, in south-western Victoria, and has been married to her husband, Phil Haines, since 1986. The couple have raised three children and live on a beef farm outside Wangaratta.

Haines’ political career began when she was elected as an independent in 2019. Her predecessor in the seat, Cathy McGowan, in many ways pioneered the community independent movement, when she won Indi from the Coalition with the backing of grassroots campaigners in 2013. It had been safely held by conservative parties for the previous 80 years.

Haines seized on the same momentum and was endorsed by McGowan to run as the local MP. She was the first independent to succeed another independent in federal parliament, and has held Indi on an 8 per cent margin in the two elections since.

“When people can see another way, it’s empowering,” Haines told Good Weekend in 2023. “The fact that the nation has chosen a parliament that has the biggest crossbench in history since federation demonstrates the need for a diversity of views and greater collaboration.”

Haines’ recent election campaigns have been backed by the Climate 200 fundraising vehicle, although she keeps a distinct profile from the “teal independents” who have won city seats with a similar community campaigning model.

Haines has advocated for climate change action and regional services, particularly healthcare. She has also been a strong advocate for integrity and transparency in politics, and was instrumental in campaigning for a national anti-corruption body.

Haines is a widely respected member of parliament. Albanese described her as an incredibly hardworking MP on Monday night.

“She is fiercely intelligent, but most importantly, she’s just a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity, respected right across the parliament, and from everyone who comes into contact with her,” he said.

What happened at her Wangaratta office?

Haines was returning to her electorate office in Wangaratta after attending a sod-turning event in the nearby town of Mansfield on Monday afternoon when she was struck by a white Toyota LandCruiser about 3.35pm.

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 Haines was getting items from the boot of her car when the incident occurred.

Eyewitness Cody Lepoidevin, who works across the road from where the alleged attack occurred, said he saw Haines hit multiple times. “We thought he was trying to run away, but he then reversed and drove back into her another three times before trying to flee,” Lepoidevin said. Others told Nine and the ABC they saw Haines pinned between two vehicles just outside her office as she was near her own car.

Police said that witnesses arrested the driver of the LandCruiser at the scene. In what the prime minister has labelled a heroic act, barbershop owner Ricky Jefferies intervened by running to the driver’s side of the vehicle and wrenching a knife from the man’s pocket before wrestling him to the ground and waiting for authorities.

“I don’t think I’m a hero. I was a person who had an opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish sort of way,” Jefferies said outside his shop on Tuesday morning. “I’m humbled, and I’m grateful and blessed to have been there to help.”

Who is the suspected attacker?

Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested by police at the scene of the crash and taken to Wangaratta police station. Nugent’s sprawling property is a short drive from central Wangaratta and was on Tuesday cordoned off by police.

Three sources with knowledge of the investigation confirmed Nugent’s identity as counter-terrorism police and ASIO probe possible motives for the attack.

Nugent has a history of activism in the area, but one source who knew him said he had strayed into “darker” things since he protested logging in the local forest. His social media history reveals he once praised Haines and backed her independent campaign in Indi. Nugent commented on one of Haines’ posts in 2019, saying it would be good to see a politician like her “who takes climate change seriously”.

A neighbour, who identified himself as Peter but requested his surname not be used, said he had made repeated calls to Triple Zero over the past year regarding Nugent’s concerning behaviour. He also claimed that Nugent had recently spent several weeks at a mental health facility in Wangaratta. Nugent’s most recent social media activity includes posts about Israel’s conduct in Gaza, British actor Russell Brand and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Nationals MP for the overlapping state seat of Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said Nugent had previously been in contact with his electorate office. “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,” he said.

Nugent remains in custody and police said they would interview him on Tuesday as they work to determine a motive.

What is Haines’ condition?

Haines underwent surgery on Monday night at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne and remains in a critical condition. She has lost a leg as a result of her injuries, sources told this masthead, and surgeons are working to try save her other leg.

“The patient remains in a critical condition, and we won’t be doing another clinical check until later this afternoon,” a statement from the hospital said. “We don’t comment or give out any other details to protect patient privacy.”

Haines was initially taken to Northeast Health Wangaratta by ambulance before being airlifted to Melbourne, Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said on Monday.

What have the authorities said?

Krissy Barrett, commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said the investigation into the alleged targeted attack was being led by the Victoria Police Security Investigation Unit.

The investigation is being supported by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes Victoria Police, the AFP and spy agency ASIO. “At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are no known threats connected to this matter,” Barrett 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.”

The AFP and ASIO have pointed to the increasing level of threatening behaviour being directed towards high office holders, including federal MPs. The AFP received 1067 reports of harassing or threatening behaviour against high office holders in 2025-26, which was up from 951 reports the year before.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said Monday’s incident had happened in an environment where increased levels of grievance, intolerance and polarisation had made violence seem permissible.

“I have repeatedly put on the record my concern about the use of violent rhetoric in public discourse. Words matter,” Burgess said in a statement.

“ASIO has seen direct correlations between inflamed language, inflamed tensions and acts of violence… 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.”

Albanese has described the event as a deliberate attack. “The motivation is unclear. But it is clear this wasn’t just an accident. This was an attempt to harm Helen Haines in Wangaratta outside of her electorate office,” he said.

Albanese, Burke and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll were briefed by the AFP and Victorian police commissioners on Tuesday morning.

Burke said the government had spoken to its own MPs, the crossbench and departing Liberal senator Jonno Duniam’s office about organising further briefings for parliamentarians, and would be working with the AFP on that issue later on Tuesday.

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