Source : the age
Indi MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, just after 3.30pm yesterday.
- Haines was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her office in Murphy Street yesterday. The 65-year-old MP suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Melbourne for treatment where she remains in a critical condition. Witnesses told Nine and the ABC they saw Haines pinned between two vehicles just outside her office as she was near her own car.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last night during a press conference that it was an intentional attack and was being investigated in a multi-agency effort, but that it was too early to determine the motivation of the attack.
- A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, about 12 kilometres east from Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody as police and counter-terrorism teams investigate his background. Police found a knife in the man’s car.
- Fellow parliamentarians – including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Greens leader David Shoebridge and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll – expressed their horror and sadness at the attack last night, and said political violence should not be accepted as a normal part of public life in Australia.
We will continue to bring you live updates on this unfolding story here on our rolling blog.
Albanese said he expects an update on the ongoing investigation into the attack on independent MP Helen Haines when he is briefed by the AFP, ASIO and counter-terrorism police later today, but says the motivation of the attacker still remains unclear this morning.
“I’ll be briefed later this morning, as well, with Premier Ben Carroll, and will allow the police to do their investigation. It’s important here that people allow that process to take place, that we deal with facts rather than speculation,” he told Sunrise.
“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. Helen was getting things from the boot of her car when this incident occurred.”
Helen Haines remains in a critical condition this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said, and underwent surgery overnight.
“Helen remains in hospital in a critical condition. I spoke with her husband Phil last night, and she underwent surgery last night,” Albanese told Seven’s Sunrise just now.
“All of Australians’ thoughts are with the family, with her many friends, with her community. Helen Haines is someone of integrity. She’s greatly admired right across the political spectrum. She’s someone who’s characterised by her kindness, her diligence, her intelligence. Someone who is so proud of representing that beautiful part of Victoria. And this is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with her this morning and today, and we hope for a full recovery.”
Jessica Bear, the owner of the coffee shop two doors down from Independent MP Helen Haines’ Wangaratta office says nearby barber and “hero” Ricky Jefferies rushed to help her after she was struck by a vehicle.
“I’m not surprised”, Bear said, “he’s such a selfless person, and it definitely needs to be known about his bravery.”
“Ricky raced out when he thought that it was just a car accident, and he apprehended the man that was in the vehicle,” Bear said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a press conference about 7pm that Haines had been attacked, but the motive was not known.
He did, however, point to the increasing number of violent threats levelled at politicians and public figures.
“Anyone who looks at comments made and directed towards members of parliament and high office holders – there is increased, heightened risk,” he said.
The PM then told the ABC’s 7.30 program: “This wasn’t an accident. This was a deliberate act, it would appear.”
The crime scene has been cleared outside Haines’ electorate office in Wangaratta.
As of this morning, the street and path outside the office are empty except for a growing media presence.
Here’s how it looks this morning.
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 the 2019 election. Her predecessor in the seat, Cathy McGowan, 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 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.
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. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described her as incredibly hardworking.
Indi MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, just after 3.30pm yesterday.
- Haines was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her office in Murphy Street yesterday. The 65-year-old MP suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Melbourne for treatment where she remains in a critical condition. Witnesses told Nine and the ABC they saw Haines pinned between two vehicles just outside her office as she was near her own car.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last night during a press conference that it was an intentional attack and was being investigated in a multi-agency effort, but that it was too early to determine the motivation of the attack.
- A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, about 12 kilometres east from Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody as police and counter-terrorism teams investigate his background. Police found a knife in the man’s car.
- Fellow parliamentarians – including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Greens leader David Shoebridge and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll – expressed their horror and sadness at the attack last night, and said political violence should not be accepted as a normal part of public life in Australia.
We will continue to bring you live updates on this unfolding story here on our rolling blog.
