Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition following an alleged targeted attack on Monday afternoon.
The Federal Member for Indi was outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in Victoria’s north, when she was struck by a car.
The 65-year-old was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital where she underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries.
A 43-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, which is also being investigated by counter-terrorism officials.
Context
Haines was struck by a white car outside her Wangaratta office around 3:30pm on Monday, Victoria Police said.
It’s understood the MP was getting something out of her car boot at the time of the incident.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told the ABC witnesses described the driver “doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time.”
“A bystander ran towards the scene, got the driver out of the vehicle and held the driver until police arrived,” Burke said.
Haines underwent emergency surgery on Monday night.
She remains in a critical but stable condition.
A man from the nearby town of Tarrawingee was arrested and held in police custody overnight.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason told ABC News there was “no recent intelligence” that “put him on our radar”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “This is something that is very clear, was aimed at causing harm to Helen Haines”.
However, he noted it was too early to speculate on motivation.
Citizen’s arrest
Police said witnesses helped Haines and detained the suspect, including local barber Ricky Jefferies.
Jefferies, who pulled the driver from the car and held him until police arrived, alleges the suspect had a knife.
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“He didn’t pull it out. Basically just … took it out of his pocket and threw it away,” he said.
He told media he “just was a person who had an opportunity to intervene”.
Albanese praised the “Good Samaritan,” saying “that person is a hero today.”
Investigation
Australia’s joint counter-terrorism team has been activated, “based upon the fact that this was a deliberate act,” Albanese explained.
Police have said that this will be a “focus of the investigation”.
The 43-year-old suspect is expected to be formally questioned by police later today.
No charges have been laid at the time of publishing.
Response
Monday’s incident has prompted discussion about the safety of elected officials.
According to the Home Affairs Minister, 1,067 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour were made against various high office holders in 2025-26, up from 951 in 2024-25.
Responding to the attack on Haines, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said: “Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised... political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.”
“I have repeatedly put on the record my concern about the use of violent rhetoric in public discourse... This incident occurred in an environment where politically motivated violence is more likely than previous years.”
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Chief Mike Burgess in a statement on Tuesday.
On Monday, independent MP Allegra Spender told ABC’s 7.30 that Haines’ approach to her work is “everything that you would want from a politician.”
Nationals MP Sam Birrell, whose electorate Nicholls neighbours Indi, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.
“Helen is a friend and colleague and one of the kindest people you would meet. She is highly respected across the aisle,” Birrell added.
Independent Senator David Pocock described Haines as “the very best of us.”
