Australian lawmaker Helen Haines critically injured after car strikes her in Victoria
In short
Independent federal lawmaker Helen Haines, 65, was critically injured when a Toyota Land Cruiser hit her outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it appeared to be a deliberate act and the national counterterrorism team is investigating. A 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene.
Read the full story 2 min read
A car struck Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines, 65, outside her electoral district office in the city of Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday afternoon, police said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an apparently deliberate attack. AP reported she remained in critical condition after surgery. Police said she was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser. [ 2 , 4 ]
"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 Corp. He said the national counterterrorism team, incorporating police and intelligence agencies, was investigating. Police said that at this stage they were investigating whether it was an intentional act, and Newsweek quoted the police statement as saying it was not yet known if the parties were known to each other. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
The 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene by a passerby and was to be interviewed, police said. Newsweek, quoting Victoria Police, described him as a Tarrawingee man. It also cited ABC News as reporting that he was known to police and would undergo a mental health assessment. Police said a knife was located and seized from inside the Toyota. CNN quoted barber Ricky Jefferies telling the ABC that he grabbed a knife from the driver's pocket and pulled him from the car. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
CNN said Albanese described the vehicle driving down the main street before turning around and ramming Haines, who was standing at the rear of her car taking items from the trunk. She was airlifted to Melbourne and underwent surgery at The Alfred hospital on Monday night, CNN reported. UPI said she was flown 150 miles by air ambulance. CNN and UPI said Haines represents the electorate of Indi, and ABC News said she was first elected to Parliament in 2019. [ 4 , 7 , 12 ]
UPI reported condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Opposition Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor said Australia "cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalized". Albanese said there had been "a rise in temperature" and "too much shouting", and that social media played a part. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said police data showed more than 1,000 threats against politicians in the 2025-2026 financial year, and police reported in 2025 that such threats had doubled over three years. [ 4 , 5 , 12 ]
Why it matters
ABC News reported that the incident has renewed safety concerns for Australian lawmakers, in a country where politicians have historically been highly accessible to the public. Albanese told the ABC there is no place for political violence in a democracy, and opposition Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor said political violence must never be accepted.
Key facts
- Helen Haines, a 65-year-old independent federal lawmaker, was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her electoral district office in Wangaratta, Victoria, police said. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an apparently deliberate attack and that the national counterterrorism team, incorporating police and intelligence agencies, was investigating. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 11 ]
- The 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene by a passerby and was to be interviewed by police. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Police said a knife was located and seized from inside the Toyota. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Haines was taken to hospital in critical condition; AP reported she remained in critical condition after surgery. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- Albanese said the motivation is not known. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Haines was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, Victoria, and was critically injured. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 12 ]
- Albanese described the incident as an apparent deliberate act and said the motivation was unknown. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 12 ]
- A 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene by a member of the public. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- A knife was found in the vehicle, according to police. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Haines underwent surgery in Melbourne after being flown from Wangaratta. [ 7 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- The motive for the attack. Albanese said the motivation is not known, and Newsweek quoted him saying it is too early to give details.
- Whether the driver and Haines knew each other. Victoria Police, quoted by Newsweek, said it is not yet known if the parties are known to each other.
- The driver's background and mental state. Only Newsweek, citing ABC News, reported that the suspect was known to police and would undergo a mental health assessment.
- Where the knife was found. Police said it was located and seized from inside the Toyota, while CNN quoted barber Ricky Jefferies saying he grabbed a knife from the driver's pocket.
- The exact time of the incident. CNN and UPI gave about 3:30 p.m. local time; Newsweek quoted Victoria Police as saying about 3:35 p.m.
- Haines's prognosis. Documents say she is in critical condition but give no outlook.