Premier ‘deeply appalled’ after Indi MP Haines injured – as it happened

We are closing the blog for the night. You can read the full story on the alleged attack on Helen Haines here, and an explainer here. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow, until then, here is a rundown of what we know so far: The independent MP for Indi is in a critical condition after an alleged attack involving a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, at about 3.35pm.

A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee is in custody, and the alleged attack is being investigated by the Australian federal police (AFP), Asio and the joint counter-terror taskforce. The motive is not yet known. A knife was allegedly found in his car after he was detained by a passerby when he exited his vehicle.

Well-wishes towards Haines have flowed in from across the political spectrum. The prime minister held a snap press conference on Monday evening where he described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a “thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament”.

The opposition leader, the Greens leader David Shoebridge, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and a string of independent and Nationals MPs have also sent their thoughts to Haines and her family, with many describing Haines as representing “the very best” in parliament.

Thoughts and prayers for Haines came amid calls to lower the political temperature in Australia. Nationals MP in the neighbouring electorate of Nicholls, Sam Birrell, said the way people were engaging had become “more angry and heated”, and added the alleged attack should be a “wake-up call”.

Addressing the media in Wangaratta, Acting Supt Ashley Mason said police were still investigating whether the incident was targeted. He said there was no ongoing threat to the community and nothing to indicate the parties were known to each other. Rise in threats towards parliamentarians should ‘alarm every Australian’, Centre for Public Integrity says The Centre for Public Integrity, an independent research institute that has had a longstanding relationship with Helen Haines, says if the alleged incident was intentional, it would be an “act of democratic violence”.

In a statement, it said it was “devastated” by the reports, describing Haines as an “extraordinary parliamentarian and an extraordinary person”. Helen is one of Australia’s most effective and determined champions of integrity in public life. Here at the Centre for Public Integrity we have been proud to work alongside her in many campaigns … Today, we welcomed the announcement of a new National Anti-Corruption Commissioner following a transparent and merit-based appointment process, precisely the type of reform Helen has long championed.

The body said it was “shocked by the increasingly hostile environment in which Australian parliamentarians are working”. It pointed to Australian federal police data which showed it received 1,067 reports of threatening, harassing, nuisance and offensive behaviour directed towards parliamentarians, high office holders and associated offices and facilities in 2025–26, an increase of 12% on the previous year.

These figures should alarm every Australian. Our democracy depends on people being willing and able to serve their communities, engage openly with the public and advocate for what they believe in, without fear for their personal safety. ‘Lower the temperature’, Nationals MP urges The Victorian state member for Euroa, Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland, has shared sentiments we heard earlier from the federal MP for her region, Sam Birrell, about the need to lower the temperature across the political divide.

In a statement, she said she was “shocked and appalled” about the alleged attack on Helen Haines and “violence is never the answer”. Tonight is a reminder of why it matters to turn down the heat. Our democracy depends on people being able to disagree without fear.

The way we speak about each other matters, and every one of us has a responsibility to lower the temperature of our political debate. Similarly, Tim McCurdy, the Nationals member for the Victorian seat of Ovens Valley, which centres on Wangaratta said: At a time like this, my thoughts are first and foremost with Helen herself and her loved ones.

She is a proud representative of our community and above all, a decent human being who does not deserve this. And Warringah MP Zali Steggall, who sits next to Helen Haines in Parliament and has worked with her since 2019 when they were both elected, says she is “shocked and devastated” by the news.

She said: She is a wonderful, caring, smart and wise friend and amazing representative for her community. I am thinking of Helen and her wonderful family. Helen Haines ‘adored by her community’, Animal Justice party MP, Georgie Purcell, says The Animal Justice party MP, Georgie Purcell, whose Victorian upper house region of northern Victoria overlaps with parts of Helen Haines’s seat of Indi, has described the independent as an “absolute powerhouse” who is “adored by her community”.

This shocking [alleged] attack will rattle the entire nation, but especially the people of Indi. And while a motivation is yet to be confirmed, I know this will also send chills down the spines of women in parliaments across the country, as well as candidates contesting the Victorian state election.

She says being a woman in politics “changes the way you move throughout the world”, including where they park your car, the route to drive home or if they hold public events or keep their office doors locked. Purcell went on: For many of us, the news coming out of Wangaratta this evening is our worst nightmare.

Only weeks ago I spoke in parliament about the escalating safety fears of women in public life – just as I have countless times before. We cannot continue to encourage women to put themselves forward for public office while failing to address the growing threats to our safety.

Our parliaments and communities are better off because of people like Helen – a nurse and midwife who has advocated for regional Victoria relentlessly. We will all be poorer for it if people like her cannot safely participate in our democracy. The host of the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing Patricia Karvelas has just told the public broadcaster that Helen Haines was due to appear on her program before the alleged attack occurred.

Visibly emotional, Karvelas said Haines was to speak about the National Anti-Corruption Commission, for which she has been a long-time advocate, prior to the incident occurring. She couldn’t do the interview … because she was [allegedly] brutally attacked. She couldn’t do her democratic job … because of this.

It’s horrific, I think, and I’m quite upset by it. Nationals MP in neighbouring electorate says alleged attack should be a wake-up call The Nationals member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, is appearing on ABC News. Birrell’s electorate neighbours Indi and shares a long border.

He says he is feeling “shocked”, having recently seen Helen Haines at an event in Euroa with the governor general. Helen is a friend, we have our political differences but share a long electorate border … Helen Haines is not a divisive figure … She’s a regional MP … just a local hard-working MP like I try to be and a lot of my colleagues.

To have something like this occur in Wangaratta … That’s the particular element that has sent a shock wave for me but also my colleagues. Birrell says he won’t change his conduct in light of the alleged attack, adding “we don’t hate each other in parliament”, but points to rising anger he’s seen in the community.

We see each other as colleagues … It’s a real feature of the Australian democracy that you can [come up to the local MP]. I don’t want to see that lost. I think we’ve all noticed the way people engage on social media and with our offices … has become more angry and heated.

I agree with the prime minister that we need to take the temperature down. Neighbouring MP, David Farley, wishes Helen Haines the ‘tenacity and strength of Hercules’ to recover Across the Murray river in the neighbouring federal electorate of Farrer, One Nation MP, David Farley, said he was at home digesting the news.

In a statement, he said: Wishing Helen Haines the tenacity & strength of Hercules to recover from her horrific injuries. Helen is the best of all of us, great representative, tenacious politician, genuine and authentic Australian. Our prayers across Farrer are with Helen and family tonight.

We brought you the statement from One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, earlier, who said “violence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for, is never acceptable in Australia”. The Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, says she’s deeply shocked about the “terrible” alleged attack on Haines.

Her statement reads: My thoughts are with Helen, her family, friends and staff at this incredibly difficult time. I know Victorians everywhere will be hoping for her recovery. I want to thank the bystanders who rushed to help, along with Victoria Police, paramedics and the medical professionals caring for Helen.

The circumstances of this [alleged] attack are deeply concerning, and it is important that police are given every opportunity to establish exactly what happened. Violence of this kind has no place in our state. She added that she had spoken with premier Ben Carroll this evening and the duo are “united in our resolve that such extreme acts cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.” Wilson said: Helen is a dedicated and decent person who has spent years standing up for her community.

Right now, our thoughts are with her and those closest to her. The deputy premier of Victoria, Gabrielle Williams, also threw her support behind Haines. In a statement posted to social media, she said she was “deeply shocked” and her heart went out to Haines, her family and friends.

Helen is a fierce advocate for her community in Indi, and I know they’ll be feeling this deeply as well. Spender says many have feared a violent incident against an Australian politician Spender says many people have feared that there would be a violent incident against an Australian politician.

Police are still investigating whether the incident involving Helen Haines was an intentional act. Earlier this evening, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the number of reports of harassment and threatening behaviour against MPs and high office holders had increased since last year.

Spender tells ABC’s 7.30: Look, I think we’ve seen an increase in, in violent language and also, you know, sort of some of the actions of jostling and other kind of actions against politicians. And I think many people have feared that there would be some sort of violent incident against Australian politicians.

And I think this is of huge concern because I think we take pride in the fact that in Australia, you know, politicians are just like anybody else. Asked about incidents overseas, including in the UK where multiple MPs have been killed in recent years, she says everyone needs to tone down their language.

You can’t control everything, including you know, and we don’t know the circumstances of this. But you know, we have always, we’ve done better in this country and we have to continue to do better. Frankly, you know, the sort of abuse of people in our hospitals, in our supermarkets.

This is part of a trend that we, I think as a country, not just as politicians. We need to step up for and say, you know what? You know, we behave in a way that we don’t want to see this sort of violence in language or violence in attitude. And I think we collectively are responsible for that.

If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of what we know so far after the alleged attack on the independent member for Indi, Helen Haines. Haines has been critically injured in an alleged attack involving a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, at about 3.35pm.

A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee is in custody, and the alleged attack is being investigated by the Australian federal police (AFP), Asio and the joint counter-terror taskforce. The motive is not yet known. A knife was allegedly found in his car after he was detained by a passerby when he exited his vehicle.

The prime minister, the opposition leader, the Greens leader David Shoebridge, One Nation head Pauline Hanson and politicians across the parliament have sent their thoughts and well wishes to Haines and her family. In a snap press conference on Monday evening, Anthony Albanese described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a “thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament”.

Addressing the media in Wangaratta, Acting Supt Ashley Mason said police were still investigating whether the incident was targeted. He said there was no ongoing threat to the community and nothing to indicate the parties were known to each other. Haines is ‘really inspirational’, says Spender Allegra Spender, who sits on the crossbench with Helen Haines, calls her one of the most outstanding people in parliament.

She tells ABC’s 7.30 Haines interrogates issues thoroughly but with enormous respect. Spender says she found out about the incident from her colleagues. Helen is the best of us. Like, Helen is one of the most outstanding people in parliament. She’s really inspirational.

I often go and talk to her, particularly if I’m looking at regional and rural issues and get her perspective on what her community thinks. But also, you know, … You see her with ministers, for instance. She takes the work incredibly seriously. She interrogates the issues very seriously, but with enormous respect and with a very civilised approach.

Helen Haines ‘is the very best of us’, David Pocock says The independent senator for Canberra, David Pocock, has released a statement of support for Helen Haines. Posting to social media, Pocock said Helen “is the very best of us”. All my love is with Helen, her family, her community and supporting her recovery.

Helen represents so much of the values we share as Australians. At a moment like this we should turn to them more than ever and be sure to take care of one another. The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, says the incident involving Helen Haines is a “shocking day for our nation”, saying political attacks cannot be normalised in Australia.

The Liberal leader said he was “deeply saddened and distressed” and was praying for Helen Haines and her family. “This is a shocking day for our nation … Australians will be angry and appalled by the [alleged] attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta,” he said in a statement on social media.

Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised. Taylor said he had spoken with Anthony Albanese and the two leaders were “united in our view that political violence must never be accepted as part of public life”. I hope Helen, her family and her community across north-east Victoria know that Australians right across the country are thinking of them and holding them in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

Albanese says further updates on potential motivations to come Finally, Albanese is asked what we can expect over the next 24 hours. He says he doesn’t want to pre-empt anything, but the public can expect further updates from authorities. We’ll be expecting further updates on the potential motivations.

Of course, we have an important legal system to go through. We don’t want to pre-empt any of those matters. But we’ll be updated on that, and any other advice about further action that should be taken in a broader sense as a result of the incident this afternoon.

And the government stands ready to accept that advice … This is an incident that needs a response more broadly, but at the moment, it’s about Helen Haines. And her family and her friends, her community and we just hope that there’s good news coming there in the very short-term.

Albanese reiterates that he has briefed the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, who he says has offered his support. Haines ‘a delight’ to work with: Albanese If he were to describe Helen Haines in one word, Anthony Albanese says it’s “integrity”. Haines has been a warrior for transparency in parliament and was instrumental in pushing for a national anti-corruption commission.

The prime minister pays tribute to Haines: Integrity. She’s someone who is very passionate about her community. She’s someone who is not shy about coming forward, about what she thinks that community needs. But she’s also someone who plays a role in the parliament.

She’s the deputy chair of the Nacc committee, looking at the National Anti-Corruption Commission. She’s someone who is always worth listening to, because her motives are good. It doesn’t mean we always agree, but I do always agree that her motives are good. And she’s just a thoroughly decent, respectful human being who is a delight to work with and her presence in the parliament adds to it.

Albanese says politicians already adjusting to increased security threats Albanese says – as he has many times in the past – that the temperature is too high and needs to be turned down. He points to discourse on social media “people will say things that they would never say face–to–face.” He says he doesn’t want to see politicians no longer able to meet people in their own communities.

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.

Well, already, you are seeing some adjustment in how people are able to get about. There’s increased security for parliamentarians and particularly for ministers and people in senior positions. We need to join in the call to turn that temperature down. We can have political debate in a respectful way.

We can have differences. They should be debated out in a democracy. But they shouldn’t be the subject of personal rankor and the calling in to and the calling in to people’s personal motivation where it is not appropriate to do so. The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has issued a statement after the alleged attack on Helen Haines.

It reads: I am deeply appalled by this [alleged] 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.

Thank you to police, paramedics, firefighters and witnesses for their immediate response. An individual has been apprehended and I thank police for their swift action. Anthony Albanese says he wasn’t aware of any threats to Helen Haines before today’s incident.

He says he won’t speculate on any motive, but that counter-terror authorities are investigating it. We don’t know what motivation is. So that is the work that’s being undertaken by the Victorian police together with the Australian federal police, but also Asio are engaged, once we’ve established the counter-terrorism taskforce, that was established very quickly after this incident which was in the later hours of this afternoon.

Albanese says authorities will be “checking on the history of the person who is in custody” to try to establish motivation. Haines’s ‘health issues serious’, Albanese says Anthony Albanese tells the ABC’s 7.30, this was a “very serious incident” and Helen Haines’s health issues are serious.

He says he was initially informed it was a car accident. He then found out it was allegedly targeted and began making calls to police and the Victorian premier. This wasn’t an accident. And the suspect is in custody. It then came through, the news, that this had occurred.

I changed my arrangements. I spoke with the AFP commissioner, Krissy Barrett, who is returning from home from work overseas. I spoke with Ben Carroll. Before this program, I briefed Angus Taylor, the leader of the opposition, who has offered his full support. And we just engaged as well, my office and team, with Helen Haines’s office.

Our thoughts, first and foremost, are just for Helen’s welfare, and we wish her a speedy recovery. Federal politicians are reacting with shock to the incident involving independent MP Helen Haines, which prime minister Anthony Albanese called an “attack” this evening.

Foreign minister Penny Wong posted on social media that: “My thoughts are with [Haines] her loved ones, friends, team and community following this shocking and deeply disturbing [alleged] attack. We are all hoping for Helen’s full recovery.” The Greens leader, David Shoebridge, wrote on X: “Horrified to hear of the apparent attack on my friend and colleague Helen Haines.

Helen is an extraordinary human being and brings people together like few others. In grief and solidarity wishing her a complete recovery.” Steph Hodgins-May, the deputy Greens leader, said she was “deeply shocked and saddened to hear reports of an [alleged] attack on my friend and colleague Helen Haines”.

Helen is a wonderful person who cares deeply about her community and the people she represents. My heart goes out to Helen, and I wish her strength and a full recovery. The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, wrote online that she was “horrified and saddened” at the news.

My thoughts are with Helen, her family and her staff … Violence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for, is never acceptable in Australia. Members of parliament and their staff must be able to serve their communities without fearing for their safety.

I thank the emergency services and the members of the public who rushed to help. Acting Supt, Ashley Mason, says he was “not aware” of any prior concerns or incidents related to Helen Haines before today’s incident. Asked how long the area will remain a crime scene, he says: We’ve got our investigators from the Major Collision Investigation Unit who are currently en route to Wangaratta from Melbourne.

So they’ve got significant travel time as well as the time it will take for them to thoroughly process the crime scene once they arrive, I think. There’s some talk that there might be specialist terrorist-related police involved in the investigation. We’ve notified our crime and counter-terrorism command and they’re currently liaison and assisting our investigators.

‘No ongoing threat to community’: Victoria police Mason tells journalists there is “nothing to indicate at this stage” that the two parties are known to each other, but police are still investigating. He says there is no ongoing or further threat to the community or any other individual at this stage.

I can provide some assurance to the community that we certainly do not have any intelligence that there is any further or ongoing threat to any other person or the broader community. We are treating this as an isolated incident at this point in time. Acting Supt Ashley Mason is addressing the media in Wangaratta.

He says police are still investigating whether the incident was targeted. We’ve still got a lot to work through here. As you can imagine, it’s been quite dynamic this afternoon. We’ve got quite an extensive crime scene. We have investigators present and they’ll continue to work through and try and collect all available evidence to ascertain exactly what has occurred and how it has occurred.

We’ve got the Major Collision Investigation Unit who are currently en route from Melbourne. Mason also will not confirm whether the incident was politically motivated. Victorian police have released a statement, and said they have arrested a man who allegedly struck a woman with a vehicle in Wangaratta.

Police say the woman – known to be Haines – is in hospital with “critical injuries”. Police allege it was a white Toyota Landcruiser that struck Haines on Murphy Street at about 3.35pm, and that there was a knife seized from inside the vehicle. The statement says: 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. 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. Albanese is asked whether the government knew about any threats made towards Helen Haines. Albanese says broadly, that he has called for the “temperature to be turned down” in political discourse.

It is too early, though, to speculate on motivation, and we won’t be doing so. We’ll allow the authorities to do their work. Obviously, Helen Haines has suffered … this is a serious incident, and so our thoughts are with Helen and her recovery at this time. He’s also asked about what security measures were in place for Haines ahead of the incidence.

Albanese says security arrangements are made “based upon the threat levels which are there”. Anyone who looks at comments made and directed towards members of parliament and high office holders – there is increased heightened risk has occurred. Our thoughts are just very much with Helen, her family, her community at this time.

He ends the press conference there. Albanese says his thoughts and his prayers are with Haines, her family and her community. Helen Haines is incredibly hard-working. She is fiercely intelligent, but most importantly, she’s just a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across the parliament, and from everyone who comes into contact with her, she is a well-loved member of her community, and this will come as an incredible shock to that community.

Our thoughts remain with Helen Haines at this very difficult time. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, says there has been an increase in reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against MPs and their offices in recent years. The year before last, we had 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against various high office holders.

The more recent financial year, that 951 has gone to 1,067. Anthony Albanese is holding a press conference in Sydney, and says there is a major police investigation under way, and that a suspect is in custody. He says the motive for the alleged attack is not known.

There is a major police investigation under way, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody. The Australian federal police, Victorian police, and Asio are working together on this. The joint counter-terrorism team has been activated, but the motive is not known.

Nationals frontbencher Michael McCormack, whose electorate shares a border with Haines’s has written on social media: Sending my love and best wishes to Helen Haines for a full and speedy recovery. Such awful news. Here’s what we know so far about the incident: We’re expecting the prime minister and home affairs minister to speak shortly from Sydney.

Helen Haines’s family have released a statement to the media. They have thanked bystanders, health workers and the police. This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care. 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. Good evening, Krishani Dhanji with you here. We will be bringing you live coverage of the prime minister’s press conference, after an incident that has left independent MP Helen Haines injured.

The incident took place near her office in Wangaratta in regional Victoria. Anthony Albanese and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, will be speaking from Sydney shortly.