Victorian Independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after being hit by a car outside her Wangaratta electorate office, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to say the incident was “not an accident”.
The 65-year-old was struck outside the Murphy Street office shortly after 3.30pm on Monday. Police declared a crime scene and remained at the location as the investigation continued.
Speaking to reporters shortly after 7pm, Albanese said Haines had been “attacked”. He confirmed that counterterrorism authorities and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation were involved in the investigation.
Haines was reportedly removing belongings from the boot of her car in a parking bay when she was allegedly struck by a white Land Cruiser.
Witnesses said the vehicle appeared to drive past Haines before making a U-turn and returning towards her. The car then allegedly hit and pinned her beneath it.
Victoria Police are treating the incident as a suspected targeted attack. The alleged driver, a 43-year-old man, was expected to be interviewed at Wangaratta Police Station later on Monday night.
A local barber told 7News he rushed to the scene, pulled the driver from the vehicle and allegedly wrestled him to the ground after discovering what appeared to be a flick knife in his pocket.
Haines, a mother of three and the federal member for Indi, was taken to hospital with “severe” lower-body injuries, according to Victoria Police.
Independent Indi MP Helen Haines was hit by a car, pictured speaking at the National Press Club.
Emergency crews gathered outside Helen Haines’ Wangaratta office.
Haines was allegedly struck by a white Land Cruiser as she unloaded items from her car.
Reports later indicated that Haines would be airlifted to Melbourne for further treatment. Unconfirmed reports also suggested she may have lost a leg.
Albanese said on Monday night that Haines had been attacked and that a man had been arrested.
“There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody,” he said.
“The Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO are working together on this. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team has been activated, but the motive is not known.”
The Prime Minister said he had spoken with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw, but cautioned that it was too early to release further details.
Albanese described Haines as “fiercely intelligent” and, above all, “a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity” who was respected across Parliament and by those who had worked with her.
Haines’ family thanked bystanders, police and medical staff for their “swift assistance” in a statement issued on Monday night.
“Our family and Helen’s staff will be making no further comment at this time and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and the media,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared shaken as he addressed reporters alongside Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Monday night.
Police remain on the scene on Monday night after a 43-year-old man was arrested
Police confirmed the 43-year-old driver has been detained and will be questioned at Wangaratta Police Station.
They also said they believed it was an isolated incident and there was no further threat to the community.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke noted that in 2024 there were 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against high office holders; but that number climbed to 1,067 in the last financial year.
‘Our thoughts are all with Helen, her family, her community and her friends’, he said.
Speaking on the ABC’s 7.30, Albanese reiterated his earlier calls to ‘turn the temperature down’ in the political discourse and also confirmed he had spoken with Haines’ office, Opposition leader Angus Taylor, the AFP, and ASIO.
‘We don’t know what the motivation (for the attack) is’, he said, adding that he wasn’t aware of any threats made toward Haines in the lead up to the incident.
He also confirmed the joint counterterrorism force had been activated.
‘They’ll be checking on the history of the person who is in custody … trying to establish a motivation … they are very professional (and) they have my complete faith’, he said.
Haines has reportedly been medevac’d to a Melbourne hospital where she will receive treatment for ‘critical injuries’
Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines and husband Phil at a Midwinter Ball at Parliament House in Canberra
Haines was first elected as the Independent Federal Member for Indi in 2019.
She worked as a health professional before making a career change and entering politics.
‘Through my work as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, I’ve cared for people in our community during some of their most important moments’, her website reads.
‘I’m not beholden to a political party and call out bad decisions, no matter who made them. I fight for you and work to get results for our community, even when the going is tough.’
In a statement Angus Taylor said it was a ‘shocking day for the nation’ and that he was personally praying for Haines.
‘No one should be targeted in this way. Australians will be angry and appalled by the attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta’, the statement said.
‘Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised.
‘I’ve spoken with the Prime Minister, and we are united in our view that political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.’
