Helen Haines attacked in ‘serious incident’ outside electorate office

Federal independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after she was struck by a four-wheel drive outside her regional Victorian electorate office in Wangaratta in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as an attack and a “serious incident”.

Albanese said the joint counter-terrorism team had been activated following the arrest of the man who drove a white Toyota Landcruiser that struck Haines on Murphy Street at 3:35pm Monday. The 43-year-old Tarrawingee man was detained at the crash scene by a passerby, with police later finding a knife inside his vehicle.

Victoria police said the man was being interviewed as investigators worked to determine whether the collision was deliberate.

Albanese said the major investigation would involve the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, but it was too early to say what had motivated the attack.

“I want to update Australians on a serious incident that has occurred in Victoria this afternoon. Helen Haines, the member for Indi, was attacked outside her electorate office in Wangaratta,” Albanese said in a press conference on Monday evening.

“All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team, and her community at this extremely difficult time. We are praying for her full recovery. I want to thank the first responders for their extraordinary work.”

A statement from Haines’ family on Monday afternoon asked that the public keep the 65-year-old in their thoughts.

“This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care. We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response,” the statement read.

“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 media. Please keep Helen in your thoughts.”

Haines became the first independent MP to succeed another independent, when she replaced Cathy McGowan in Indi at the 2019 federal election.

The sprawling regional Victorian electorate spans from Marysville to Wodonga and Mount Hotham, and takes in towns including Lake Eildon, Beechworth, Corryong, Myrtleford and the alpine town of Porepunkah.

A former nurse, midwife and health researcher, Haines has advocated for better telecommunications infrastructure and for the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The regional city of Wangaratta, about two hours and 40 minutes’ drive northeast of Melbourne, is home to about 30,000 people.

Authorities have become increasingly worried about the risk of a public official being killed or hurt.

Security officials privately cite the long tail of the pandemic fuelling distrust and conspiracies, segments of the Muslim community being less willing to work with police after October 7, social media desensitising a generation of young people, and increased frustrations with cost of living and global instability.

New National Security Investigations units were set up by the Australian Federal Police late last year to target politically motivated violence, maintain social cohesion and protect democratic institutions.

Police data shows threats to MPs and electorate officers grew from 555 reports in 2021-22 to more than 1000 the next year. In the latest reporting period, between July 2024 and February 2025, there were more than 700.

More to come

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