Source : Perth Now news
Parliamentarians were for years bracing for an attack such as the one on independent MP Helen Haines, a senior minister has said, saying it was a matter of “when, not if that something will happen to one of us”.
Almost a week has passed since Dr Haines was twice struck by a four-wheel drive outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, inflicting severe injuries that forced surgeons to amputate both of her legs.
She remained in a “serious but stable” condition at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital as of Sunday morning.
As investigators piece together a motive, the incident has sparked a national conversation about the rise of political violence, with politicians at the federal, state and local levels sharing threats made toward them and their families.
Cabinet minister Catherine King said on Sunday that “we’ve seen more and more abuse coming through emails, coming through our phone systems, often people feeling okay to say things to our faces on the street that they perhaps wouldn’t have said before”.
“All of us, I think, have been alert and have been trying to look at how we do our jobs differently,” she told News24.
“But the very nature of what we do is – we talk to people, we’re interacting all the time, we’re out and about in the community, and it’s really hard to protect yourself and your staff … from someone who takes a decision to do what this person is alleged to have done.”
Victoria Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a commonwealth public official.
He was arrested at the scene outside Dr Haines’ electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday.
He appeared in court on Wednesday, where he was remanded in custody.
He has a history of mental health challenges.
More to come
