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From 4h ago Haines loses leg in alleged attack The independent member for Indi has lost her leg and remains in a critical condition after being rammed by a vehicle, in what has been labelled an allegedly targeted attack. Haines was allegedly hit by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria , at about 3.35pm on Monday afternoon. She was airlifted to a Melbourne’s Alfred hospital and is fighting for her life after undergoing surgery overnight, with sources confirming to AAP the MP had lost one of her legs. - AAP Key events 2h ago Katy Gallagher condemns ‘devastating’ alleged attack 2h ago How the events allegedly unfolded yesterday 3h ago ‘Violence has no place,’ says human rights commission 4h ago Haines loses leg in alleged attack 4h ago Indi representatives issue joint statement 6h ago Haines’ alleged attacker has been named as Brendan Nugent 7h ago New Zealand PM offers thoughts and prayers for Haines 8h ago Asio boss warns about ‘violent rhetoric in public discourse’ 9h ago Lidia Thorpe shares tribute to Haines, shares daily fears of being in public eye 9h ago Barber who stopped alleged attacker speaks from Wangaratta 9h ago What we know so far 10h ago Haines in critical but stable condition after being rammed twice in alleged attack: Burke 11h ago Helen Haines still in critical condition: Albanese 12h ago Anthony Albanese: 'This is a tragic situation' 12h ago Welcome We’re wrapping up our live coverage of the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines .
Here’s how the day unfolded: Helen Haines was critically injured in an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office in regional Victoria on Monday afternoon. Haines remains in a critical condition at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital, where she underwent surgery overnight. The independent MP has lost one of her legs , with surgeons on Tuesday working to save her other leg.
Politicians from across the political spectrum have expressed their support for Haines, her family and local community. Prime minister, Anthony Albanese , described her as “kind, compassionate, a person of integrity”. State and local representatives across the Indi electorate released a statement calling Haines “the best of public service”.
Many have also expressed their concern about the rise of online hate, and violent and threatening rhetoric. New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon , described the incident as a “terrible set of circumstances” and “a concerning development in Australia, for sure”. The alleged attacker, now in custody, has been named as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent , a long-term forestry campaigner in the state’s north east.
Environment campaigners who worked with Nugent several years ago have expressed shock at his arrest. A major investigation is under way , with Victoria police and the Australian federal police working to identify potential charges. Floral tributes left outside Helen Haines’ electoral office in Wangaratta, Victoria.
Photograph: James Ross/Reuters Katy Gallagher condemns ‘devastating’ alleged attack Speaking on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program, the federal finance minister said: double quotation mark The idea that [an] MP had been hurt outside their electorate office doing their work, [and] that it was Helen Haynes, was just horrific. Devastating, I think is the word I would use, and I think that’s being felt right across the political spectrum and across her electorate and across Australia . It’s hard to get your head around, that life can change like that in a moment, for Helen.
And to be critically injured and to be going through what she and her family are going through today as a consequence of her work, and her job standing up for her electorate, is just absolutely devastating. Katy Gallagher speaking to the media in September. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters Tess Ikonomou Surgeons working to save Haines’ other leg The man accused of attacking Helen Haines allegedly made a U-turn before ramming the independent MP twice in an alleged targeted attack near her electorate office, causing her to lose one of her legs.
The member for Indi was airlifted from Wangaratta in northern Victoria to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital for emergency surgery on Monday night. Surgeons were on Tuesday fighting to save Haines’ other leg, as the 65-year-old remained in a critical condition. Read more: An air ambulance at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne.
Surgeons are operating on Helen Haine’s leg, after the first was amputated. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP How the events allegedly unfolded yesterday The alleged attack on Helen Haines on Monday took place outside her Wangaratta electorate office. The incident happened about 3.35pm and involved a four-wheel drive, which allegedly U-turned before striking Haines.
The independent federal MP is in a critical but stable condition at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital and has lost one of her legs. A 43-year-old man has been taken to Wangaratta police station for questioning. This map shows how the events allegedly unfolded.
A map showing how the incident unfolded outside Helen Haines’ electorate office A map showing how the incident unfolded outside Helen Haines’ electorate office ‘Violence has no place,’ says human rights commission The Australian Human Rights Commission has expressed shock and sadness at the attack on Helen Haines . In a post to social media, the commission said: double quotation mark Everyone should be safe at work and in life. Violence has no place in our society.
Everyone should be treated with respect, irrespective of their political opinions, gender, faith, race or background. Parliamentarians must be able to carry out their duties safely. This attack happened against a backdrop of increasing polarisation and threats against politicians.
We must address intimidation, hatred, threats and violence that undermine our democracy and democratic institutions. Australian Human Rights commissioner Lorraine Finlay at Parliament House. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Zoe Daniel: ‘It was obvious ... someone would get physically hurt’ The three-time ABC foreign correspondent and former independent member for Goldstein, has written a comment piece after the alleged attack. double quotation mark It was obvious to those of us who work in and around politics, that eventually, someone would get physically hurt.
The fact that it’s Helen Haines , arguably the best of all of us, not just as a politician but a person, is unbearable. Some of us community indies have T-shirts that say, “What would Helen do?” They were a gift from the member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, a few years ago. And while it was a bit funny at the time, it’s not a joke.
Helen is the one you go to when you’re grappling with the moral quandaries that arise frequently as an MP, in a job when a binary yes/no vote sometimes feels impossible. With intelligence, warmth and deeply held ethics, she represents the very backbone of the parliament. Read more: Krishani Dhanji ‘Don’t send that nasty comment’: Hastie joins calls to turn the temperature down Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie said he’s shocked and saddened by the alleged attack on Helen Haines , and also had concerns about his own safety and of others in Parliament.
“It’s always in the back of my mind”, he said, “which is why I stay fit and I take precautions”. Hastie was recently given extra security by the government due to threats on himself and his family, and says more broadly that the temperature needs to be turned down, particularly on social media. Speaking to ABC radio this morning, Hastie said: double quotation mark Be a better steward of Australian democracy.
The worst thing we can do right now is point fingers at our political opponents and say, see, it was something that they posted or something that they said. How can we each be better? Maybe don’t like that nasty post or don’t send that nasty comment or don’t trash someone when you don’t even know who they are.
Despite their political differences, he said he held Haines in “very high regard” and called her one of the gentlest and friendliest MPs. It echoed the tributes from other politicians across federal and state parliaments who described her as “the best of us”. The Liberal member for Canning, Andrew Hastie.
Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Tom McIlroy Albanese praises Haines, as MP remains in critical condition Anthony Albanese is speaking at an event organised by The Age in Melbourne. He says Helen Haines is still in a critical condition in the Alfred Hospital. Albanese said: double quotation mark Helen Haines represents the best of our political representatives.
Kind, compassionate, a person of integrity, totally committed, strongly representing the people of that beautiful part of Victoria. I was asked earlier today when someone suggested ‘could we do a vigil somewhere? What can we do to show our support and solidarity between fellows at this difficult time?’ My response to them, when I thought about it, was just ‘be like Helen: kindness, compassion, caring.’ Tom McIlroy Light will win over darkness: PM reiterates praise for barber who rushed to help Prime minister Anthony Albanese is speaking in Melbourne and has again praised Rick Jefferies, the local barber who stepped in during the alleged attack against MP Helen Haines.
He says Jefferies’ actions represented the best of the Australian character. “This is just a bloke,” Albanese said. double quotation mark He said it was just the right thing to do, but he did run into danger, not knowing what the consequences could potentially be for him. Just running to help someone else.
A great example of the Australian spirit and the best of the Australian character. So I think that even in dark times we see light. What Ricky represents is light, and light will be over darkness each and every time.
Haines loses leg in alleged attack The independent member for Indi has lost her leg and remains in a critical condition after being rammed by a vehicle, in what has been labelled an allegedly targeted attack. Haines was allegedly hit by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria , at about 3.35pm on Monday afternoon. She was airlifted to a Melbourne’s Alfred hospital and is fighting for her life after undergoing surgery overnight, with sources confirming to AAP the MP had lost one of her legs. - AAP
Source: The Guardian
