Car strikes Australian independent MP Helen Haines outside her office, leaving her in critical condition
October 19, 2026 at 05:16 PM
Helen Haines, a 65-year-old independent member of Australia's federal parliament, was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in the state of Victoria, on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 19, and was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Melbourne, where she is in critical condition [2][4]. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference in Sydney that evening that Haines had been "attacked" and confirmed that a suspect was in custody [1].
According to Victoria Police, a white Toyota LandCruiser struck Haines outside an office on Murphy Street at about 3:35 p.m. [2]. The driver, a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, about 10 kilometers from Wangaratta, was detained by a passerby as he got out of the car and was then arrested, and police said a knife was allegedly found in the vehicle [2]. On the morning of Oct. 20, Albanese told ABC that the car appeared to have driven past Haines and then made a U-turn to come back and hit her as she stood at the boot of her own car [3].
At the news conference, Albanese described the investigation this way [1].
There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody. The Australian Federal Police, Victorian Police, and ASIO are working together on this. The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team has been activated, but the motive is not known.
Police are investigating whether the act was intentional, and it is not yet known whether the two knew each other [2]. Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason of Victoria Police said there was "no recent intelligence" that had put the man on the police radar and that the case was being treated as an isolated incident, with no sign of any further threat to the community [3]. The man spent the night in custody at Wangaratta Police Station and was due to be interviewed on the morning of Oct. 20 [3]. Speaking on ABC's 7.30 program on the night of Oct. 19, Albanese said he had first been told that Haines had been injured in a car accident, before adding, "This wasn't an accident" [2][4].
Haines worked as a nurse and midwife before becoming a rural health researcher, and she first won the seat of Indi in northeastern Victoria at the 2019 federal election [6]. She is known for introducing legislation in 2021 for a national anti-corruption watchdog and for helping drive the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and according to the BBC she is seen by many as a unifying force in an era of divisive politics [4].
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said reports of harassing and threatening behavior toward high office holders had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the most recent financial year [1]. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation warned last year that the risk of politically motivated violence was "already flashing red," and Albanese has repeatedly warned that the temperature of political debate has been rising [2][4]. Opposition leader Angus Taylor of the Liberal Party said, "No one should be targeted in this way," and the leaders of the Greens and One Nation also condemned the violence [5].
References
- [1]Prime Minister of Australia (Press conference - Sydney)
- [2]The Guardian (‘Deeply appalled’: politicians condemn alleged attack after independent MP Helen Haines critically injured)
- [3]ABC News (Live: PM says driver did a U-turn and hit Helen Haines in 'deliberate act' as MP remains critical)
- [4]BBC (Australian MP critically injured after being hit by car in apparent attack)
- [5]SBS News (PM says suspect in custody after MP Helen Haines allegedly 'attacked' outside office)
- [6]Wikipedia (Helen Haines)