An Australian lawmaker is in a critical condition after being "attacked" outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, prime minister Anthony Albanese said.
Independent MP Helen Haines, 65, was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries after being struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser about 3.35pm on Monday, Victoria Police said.
"All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team, and her community at this extremely difficult time. We are praying for her full recovery," Albanese told a news conference on Monday evening following the "serious incident".
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPolice said a 43-year-old suspect had been arrested.
Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said there was no further threat to the public and that they were treating it as an isolated incident.
Independent MP Helen Haines (Getty)
Albanese told ABC's 730 programme: "This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act; it would appear."
Earlier, he told reporters: "There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody.
"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.
"Helen Haines is incredibly hardworking. She is fiercely intelligent but most importantly she is just a thoroughly decent human being. Full of integrity and respected right across the parliament and by everyone who comes into contact with her.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"She is a well-loved member of her community, and this will come as an incredible shock to her community."
Haines, a mother of three, is an Independent MP for the Indi division in Victoria.
She spent three decades working in rural healthcare as a nurse, midwife and academic, completing a doctoral thesis at Sweden's Uppsala University on childbirth before she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2019 and re-elected in 2022 and 2025.
Haines' election made history as the first independent to succeed another independent, Cathy McGowan, in the same seat in Australia's parliament.
In parliament, she has championed causes including climate change, regional housing and worked with the ruling Labour government to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIn a post on her Facebook page, Haines' family said: "We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response.
"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 media.
"Please keep Helen in your thoughts."
In a statement, Victoria Police said: "It is understood a white Toyota Land Cruiser struck the 65-year-old woman outside an office on Murphy Street about 3.35pm.
"When he exited the Toyota, the driver, a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, was arrested at the scene by a passerby. He will be interviewed in relation to the incident.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"The woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries. A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota.
"At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.
"It is not known yet if the parties are known to each other. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are en route. The investigation remains ongoing."
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll said he was "deeply appalled by this violent attack on Helen Haines".
"My thoughts – and the thoughts of all Victorians – are with Helen, her family, her friends, her colleagues and her community. I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"Thank you to police, paramedics, firefighters and witnesses for their immediate response."
Haines is an Independent MP for the Indi division in Victoria (Getty)
The episode has renewed safety concerns for Australian lawmakers, in a country where politicians have historically been highly accessible to the public and usually go about their business without security officers present. But public incitement against officials is growing.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in 2025 that threats against parliamentarians had doubled over the past three years.
Police data showed more than 1,000 such threats against politicians in the 2025-2026 financial year, home affairs Minister Tony Burke said Monday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIn Britain, murders of politicians have prompted bolstered security. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and MP Helen Haines (Reuters)
When asked whether the increased anger around politics had led to worries about attacks on politicians, the prime minister pointed to the anonymity of online content.
"The concern, if you look at anyone's social media feeds and look at the comments, people will say things that they would never say face to face. But the temperature has undoubtedly been increased. Not just here in Australia, of course. We've seen incidents internationally as well," he said.
"Here in Australia, it is a good thing that politicians are able to go about their community and engage with people. I don't want to see a political system in which you can't have conversations with people at the supermarket, in the street, at street meetings, public forums. That's an important part of our democracy."
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor described it as a "shocking day" for Australia.
"Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised," he said.
