Source : Perth Now news
Parliamentarians will pause usual business when for Monday’s sitting to pay tribute to crossbencher Helen Haines as she recovers from the life-altering attack outside her electorate office.
NewsWire understands Anthony Albanese plans to deliver a message of support for Dr Haines on Monday morning and invite other MPs to do the same.
The gesture will come a week after Dr Haines was twice struck by a four-wheel drive outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria last Monday.
Witnesses said the 65-year-old independent MP for the northeastern Victorian seat of Wangaratta was pinned against another vehicle.
The incident inflicted severe injuries that forced surgeons to amputate both of her legs.
She was in a “serious but stable condition” at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital as of Sunday morning – an improvement after days of receiving critical care.
Victoria Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent – who was arrested at the scene of the attack – with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a commonwealth public official.
Those charges may change as investigators piece together a motive.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said on Sunday that authorities had no “information that would have suggested that (Dr Haines) was the target of something as horrific as has occurred” but stressed that “whether it was directly linked to her role as a federal parliamentarian remains front and centre for our investigators”.
Mr Nugent appeared in court on Wednesday, where he was remanded in custody.
He has a history of mental health challenges and drug use, while his social media presence paints him as an environmental activist with anti-Israel views and a penchant for conspiracy theories.
His parents have also revealed they were longtime friends of Dr Haines.
Victoria Police confirmed this week that investigators were looking at whether Mr Nugent allegedly attacked Dr Haines as an indirect way of hurting his parents.
