Helen Haines critically injured in vehicle attack as police question suspect

OTN Bangla Desk: Independent federal MP Helen Haines has suffered serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. Police questioned a 43-year-old man on Tuesday morning as investigators worked to establish the motive behind the alleged attack.

The incident occurred shortly after 3.30pm on Monday, 19 October, outside the Indi MP’s office, approximately 250 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. Witnesses reportedly said a white Toyota LandCruiser struck Haines before reversing and hitting her again.

Haines sustained severe injuries to her lower body and received emergency treatment before being transferred to a Melbourne hospital. Some media reports have raised concerns that she could lose both legs, but that outcome has not been medically confirmed.

The man in custody has been identified as Brendan Nugent, from Tarrawingee, east of Wangaratta. A local barber and other bystanders intervened following the incident, restraining him before police took him into custody. Nugent underwent a mental health assessment and remained in custody on Tuesday morning.

Police said a knife was recovered from the vehicle. Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) are involved in the investigation, with the Joint Counter Terrorism Team also examining the incident. The motive remains unclear, and the involvement of counterterrorism investigators does not establish that it was a terrorist attack.

Investigators are also examining an X account believed to belong to Nugent. According to media reports, the account previously shared photographs of a LandCruiser bearing a registration plate matching the vehicle involved in the alleged attack.

The account contained posts about climate change, forestry and Gaza, alongside earlier comments expressing support for Haines. In 2019, it praised her position on climate change and criticised campaigning against independent candidates in Indi. Authorities have not established whether any of those posts are connected to the incident.

Meanwhile, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has warned that violent language in public debate is increasing the risk of politically motivated violence.

In a statement, Burgess said political differences, debate and peaceful protest were essential to a healthy democracy, but warned that ASIO had observed direct links between inflammatory language, heightened tensions and acts of violence.

He said growing political polarisation, intolerance, anti-authority beliefs and declining trust in institutions were contributing to a concerning security environment.

Burgess warned that politically motivated violence could emerge across different ideological groups, with attacks occurring with little or no warning and proving difficult to detect.

He urged Australians to engage in civil discussion, debate respectfully and exercise restraint when disagreeing.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack on Haines, including whether it was politically motivated.