One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce has ripped into Anthony Albanese about a “dirt file” his office created in the weeks before independent MP Helen Haines was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Victoria’s northwest.
The independent MP remains in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred on Friday morning after she was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon.
Surgeons were forced to amputate both of Dr Haines’ legs following the attack.
Dr Haines’ alleged attacker, Brendan Nugent, 43, faces charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the commonwealth offence of causing harm to a commonwealth public official.
He did not apply for bail and is expected to face a committal hearing on February 4, 2027.
Weeks before the attack, the Prime Minister’s office reportedly circulated a “dirt file”, which raised questions about Dr Haines’ integrity and advocacy for local projects without providing any evidence of wrongdoing.
It was sent out after Dr Haines criticised a $6m grant allocated to Mr Albanese’s local golf club, the Marrickville Golf Club.
Speaking to News 24, Mr Albanese did not deny the existence of the file, instead saying Dr Haines was a “good member”.
“She put forward applications like other members do for grants, and that’s what good local members do. Helen Haines is a very strong advocate for her community,” he said.
Speaking to News 24 on Thursday night, Mr Joyce said Mr Albanese’s response to the dirt file was a “pathetic attempt to demean and diminish a very decent lady”.
He said it was “infuriatingly ridiculous” for Mr Albanese to not apologise for the dirt file, arguing the Prime Minister’s office thought Australians were “stupid”.
“It is just so infuriatingly ridiculous that you think we’re all that stupid when the only people who are as dumb as a bag of hammers are residing in the Prime Minister of Australia’s office,” he said.
‘Deeply moved’: Donations surpass $600k for Save the Children
More than $600,000 has been raised or the Save The Children fundraiser in honour of Dr Haines.
Dr Haines’ husband Phil asked the public to donate to the fundraiser in lieu of flowers.
“She loves flowers, but it’s a bit difficult to look after many bunches of flowers,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.
“We will ask people if they would like to support Helen to make a donation to the Save the Children Fund.”
As of Friday morning, Australians donated $613,000 to the fundraiser.
“We are deeply moved that Helen, her husband Phil, her family and her team are thinking of children in need and we would like to thank them for their kindness,” charity chief executive Mat Tinkler said on Thursday afternoon.
“That they want to do something positive for children when they are facing such a devastating situation speaks volumes about their generosity and compassion.”
Mr Tinkler said the funds raised would support vulnerable children and “causes that are close to our heart”, including maternal and child healthcare or early childhood education.
Dr Haines’ warning before attack
Five days before the independent MP was rammed outside her electorate office, Dr Haines asked Mr Albanese to consider urgent mental health funding for rural areas
The ABC reported Dr Haines spoke to Mr Albanese last week during the crossbench meeting to highlight the $2.7bn funding gap between metropolitan and regional regions.
There, she reportedly handed him a copy of the Forgotten Health Spend: A Report on the Expenditure Deficit in Rural Australia 2026.
A spokesman for Mr Albanese told ABC “members are free to raise any issues and we follow up”.