Federal MP Helen Haines fighting for life after being hit by a car outside her office – as shaken Prime Minister confirms she was ‘attacked’ and counter terror units investigating

Victorian Independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition in hospital after being struck by a car outside her Wangaratta electoral office in northern Victoria, with a shaken Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirming it was ‘not an accident’.

Haines was struck outside the Murphy Street office just after 3.30pm on Monday afternoon. A crime scene has been declared and police remain on the scene.

Albanese spoke to the media just after 7pm on Monday night when he confirmed Haines was ‘attacked’ and that counterterrorism units and ASIO are investigating. 

Haines, 65, was getting belongings out of the boot of her car in a parking bay when she was allegedly hit by a white Land Cruiser.

Witnesses said the driver appeared to pass Haines before performing a U-turn and driving back, striking Haines with the vehicle and pinning her under the car.

Police are treating the incident as a suspected targetted attack and confirmed that the 43-year-old male alleged driver will be interviewed at Wangaratta Police Station later on Monday night.

A local barber told 7News that he ran over and pulled the driver from the car and allegedly wrestled him to the ground after finding a flick knife in his pocket.

Haines, the mother-of-three MP for the seat of Indi, was rushed to hospital with ‘severe’ lower body injuries, Victoria Police said.

Independent member for Indi Helen Haines has been hit by a car (pictured as she spoke during an address at the National Press Club)

Emergency services outside the office of Helen Haines

Reports have since emerged she will be airlifted to Melbourne for further treatment and that she may have lost her leg. 

Albanese told the media on Monday night that Haines had been ‘attacked’ and that a man had been arrested.

‘There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody’, he said.  

‘The Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO are working together on this. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team has been activated, but the motive is not known.’

The Prime Minister confirmed that he had spoken with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw, but it was ‘too early’ in the investigation to provide more details.

Albanese added that Haines was ‘fiercely intelligent, but most importantly … a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across the Parliament and by everyone who comes into contact with her.’ 

Haines’ family issued a statement on Monday night where they thanked the ‘swift assistance’ of bystanders, police and medical workers for responding to the incident.

‘Our family and Helen’s staff will be making no further comment at this time and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and the media’, the statement said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seemed shaken when he spoke at a press briefing with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Monday night.

Police confirmed the 43-year-old driver has been detained and will be questioned at Wangaratta Police Station.

They also said they believed it was an isolated incident and there was no further threat to the community.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke noted that in 2024 there were 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against high office holders; but that number climbed to 1,067 in the last financial year.

‘Our thoughts are all with Helen, her family, her community and her friends’, he said. 

Speaking on the ABC’s 7.30, Albanese reiterated his earlier calls to ‘turn the temperature down’ in the political discourse and also confirmed he had spoken with Haines’ office, Opposition leader Angus Taylor, the AFP, and ASIO.

‘We don’t know what the motivation (for the attack) is’, he said, adding that he wasn’t aware of any threats made toward Haines in the lead up to the incident. 

He also confirmed the joint counterterrorism force had been activated.

‘They’ll be checking on the history of the person who is in custody … trying to establish a motivation … they are very professional (and) they have my complete faith’, he said.

Haines has reportedly been medevac’d to a Melbourne hospital where she will receive treatment for ‘critical injuries’

Haines was first elected as the Independent Federal Member for Indi in 2019.  

She worked as a health professional before making a career change and entering politics.

‘Through my work as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, I’ve cared for people in our community during some of their most important moments’, her website reads.

‘I’m not beholden to a political party and call out bad decisions, no matter who made them. I fight for you and work to get results for our community, even when the going is tough.’

In a statement Angus Taylor said it was a ‘shocking day for the nation’ and that he was personally praying for Haines.

‘No one should be targeted in this way. Australians will be angry and appalled by the attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta’, the statement said.

‘Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised.

‘I’ve spoken with the Prime Minister, and we are united in our view that political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.’