'Not accident': Australian PM says MP Helen Haines was hit in 'deliberate act'

Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured after being struck by a car outside her electoral office in Victoria state on Monday in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as an apparently deliberate attack.The driver was arrested at the scene.The 65-year-old was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV outside her electoral district office in Wangaratta in the mid-afternoon, police said. She was taken to hospital with critical injuries.“This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear. We don't know what the motivation is,” Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).The national counterterrorism team, which brings together police and intelligence agencies, was investigating the incident, the prime minister said.Police said the 43-year-old driver was detained by a passerby before being arrested. A knife was found and seized from inside the vehicle.“A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota,” police said. “At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.”The motive has not been established, Albanese said.

Who is Helen Haines?

Haines has represented the rural electorate of Indi, north of Melbourne, since entering parliament in 2019.

According to Reuters, her election made history as the first time an independent politician succeeded another independent in the same seat, taking over from Cathy McGowan.Before entering politics, Haines spent three decades working in rural healthcare as a nurse, midwife and academic. She also completed a doctoral thesis on childbirth at Sweden's Uppsala University.She entered parliament through the community movement Voices for Indi, which challenged the traditional conservative stronghold in 2019.During her time in parliament, Haines has championed climate action and regional housing and worked with the ruling Labor government to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission.Albanese praised her contribution to parliament and her work for her community.“She's someone who is very passionate about her community. She's someone who's not shy about coming forward about what she thinks that community needs, but she's also someone who plays a role in the parliament,” he told ABC.The prime minister also described Haines as “a thoroughly decent, respectful human being who is a delight to work with”.

In a statement, Haines' family said she was receiving medical care and thanked bystanders, healthcare workers and police for their assistance. The family and her staff said they would make no further comment at the time and requested privacy.

Attack raises concerns over

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Australian politicians, who have traditionally been accessible to the public and often carried out their duties without security officers present.Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in 2025 that threats against parliamentarians had doubled over the preceding three years. Home affairs minister Tony Burke said on Monday that police data recorded more than 1,000 threats against politicians during the 2025-2026 financial year.Albanese said the increasingly polarised political climate had already prompted changes to security arrangements for lawmakers.“I think there has been a rise in temperature and there has been too much shouting, not enough discourse, not enough polite conversation and disagreement,” he told ABC, adding that social media was also playing a role.Australian Federal Police had established a dedicated team the previous year to investigate groups and individuals targeting lawmakers.