Helen Haines loses leg, fights for life after attack

A federal MP has lost her leg and is fighting for her life after being rammed by a vehicle in what has been labelled a deliberate attack.

Independent member for Indi Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after being hit by the Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, about 3.35pm on Monday.

The 65-year-old was reportedly at the boot of her car when the four-wheel drive allegedly made a U-turn, hit her, reversed and hit her again, according to eyewitness accounts relayed by government ministers.

Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old man from nearby town of Tarrawingee, has been identified as the Toyota driver and is in custody.

Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating the incident.

The MP was airlifted to a Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital and remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery overnight, with sources confirming to AAP she had lost one of her legs.

Dr Haines’ husband Phil, daughter Georgia and sons Nick and Will were seen briefly emerging from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, where they have been at her bedside.

Separate sources were also able to confirm the identity of alleged perpetrator, who is from the nearby town of Tarrawingee, to AAP on Tuesday afternoon.

Nugent had reportedly been apprehended behind the wheel of the LandCruiser by local barber Ricky Jefferies, who says the driver had a knife, before police arrived to detain him.

He was held at Wangaratta police station overnight and questioned on Tuesday morning, but is yet to be formally charged, with authorities reportedly blocking access to an address connected to Nugent not far from Wangaratta.

Back in town, locals crowded a church for a vigil in support of Dr Haines

State Nationals MP Tim McCurdy told AAP he had come across Nugent before, but said his interactions with him were non-aggressive.

“He wasn’t threatening to any of our staff,” he said.

It is not clear whether the alleged attack was politically motivated, with Victoria’s counter-terrorism task force being joined in the investigation by federal police and spy agency ASIO.

There was no recent evidence Nugent was on authorities’ radar prior to the alleged attack, Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said earlier on Tuesday.

The incident also seemed to be a standalone with no enduring danger, according to AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett.

“At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are no known threats connected to this matter,” she said.

Federal and Victorian police briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, along with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll, on the incident on Tuesday morning.

Mr Albanese has alleged the attack on Dr Haines was clearly deliberate.

“This wasn’t something with a car just going off the off the road, this is something that is very clear was aimed at causing harm to Helen Haines,” the prime minister told News24 earlier on Tuesday.

The agency is gearing up to deliver more security briefings to federal MPs, after reporting a rise in threats against federal parliamentarians, high office-holders and electorate officers in recent years.

A task force to disrupt high-impact, politically motivated violence and similar potential crimes has already charged 41 people for threatening politicians and higher-ups since being established in October 2025, according to the AFP.

Australia’s top spy boss also used the incident to issue a renewed plea for more civil political discourse, saying politically motivated violence was as grave a threat to national security as espionage and foreign interference.

“This incident occurred in an environment where politically motivated violence is more likely than previous years,” ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said in a statement on Tuesday.