File photo: Independent Australian lawmaker Helen Haines (Picture credit: Reuters)
Australian federal lawmaker Helen Haines has had both her legs amputated after being repeatedly struck by a car in an apparent act of political violence, her husband said on Wednesday.The 65-year-old independent politician remains in critical condition at a Melbourne hospital, where she was flown by helicopter following the incident.Haines was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV in her hometown of Wangaratta on Monday. Her husband, Phil Haines, provided the family's first public update on her condition since the alleged attack.He said doctors amputated her left leg on Monday and her right leg on Wednesday after they abandoned efforts to save it.“The good news in all this is that Helen is alive and she’s stable. That is the most important thing for our family,” Phil Haines told reporters in Melbourne.“We are grateful and thankful that at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape,” he added.Phil Haines also noted that the couple would celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in November.
Accused appears in court
The latest update on Haines' condition came hours after the man accused of running her over appeared before the Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Brendan Nugent, 43, from nearby Tarrawingee, faces charges of intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official, news agency AP reported.Nugent did not apply for bail or enter a plea. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February. Police have not yet established a motive for the alleged attack.His lawyer, Chirag Patel, told Magistrate Allison Vaughan that Nugent was suffering from potential mental health issues and a concussion.
However, the lawyer did not explain how his client had sustained the concussion.Patel also said Nugent had a neurological condition known as idiopathic transverse myelitis but had not been diagnosed with any mental health problems.According to the Cleveland Clinic, idiopathic transverse myelitis is a rare condition that damages the protective myelin sheath around the spinal cord, disrupting nerve signals between the brain and the body.It can cause rapid muscle weakness, sensory loss, pain, and bladder and bowel dysfunction.Witnesses told investigators that the driver rammed Haines with the vehicle, pinning her against her own car, before reversing and striking her a second time.
Attack raises concerns over MPs' security
The incident has renewed debate in Australia about how to protect elected representatives while preserving their accessibility to the public. Political violence is uncommon in the country, and many lawmakers generally carry out their official duties and personal activities without dedicated security details.Senior opposition lawmaker James Paterson called on Wednesday for a review of the personal security arrangements for parliamentarians following the alleged attack.“The reality is that Australian parliamentarians by global standards are uniquely accessible to the public and that’s a good thing,” Paterson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.“But we … can’t have a situation where shocking attacks like this take place because that will fundamentally change our democracy forever if it becomes a serious risk to your life to be a member of parliament,” he added.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, urged lawmakers to continue engaging openly with the public despite growing hostility within the community.“We want to make sure that people can feel as much comfort as possible that everything’s being done to maximise security,” Albanese told News24.“I think parliamentarians across the board are determined to make sure that we can continue to engage as we need to in this great democracy of ours,” he said, adding that public interaction was important to Australia's democracy.The investigation into the alleged attack is continuing, with police yet to determine the motive.