A federal member of parliament has lost her leg and is fighting for her life after being rammed by a vehicle in what has been labelled a deliberate attack.
Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after being hit by a Toyota Landcruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, at about 3.35 p.m. on Oct. 19 afternoon.
Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating the alleged attack.
Dr. Haines, 65, was at the boot of her car when the SUV allegedly made a U-turn, hit her, reversed and hit her again, according to eyewitness accounts relayed by government ministers.
She was airlifted to a Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital and remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery overnight, with sources confirming to AAP the MP had lost one of her legs.
A 43-year-old man from the nearby town of Tarrawingee was arrested at the scene and could be charged with causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
If found guilty, he could face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Wangaratta locals have crowded a local church for a vigil in support of Dr. Haines, with authorities reportedly blocking access to an address connected with the suspect not far from the town.
It is not clear whether the alleged attack was politically motivated, with Victoria’s counter-terrorism task force being joined in the investigation by federal police and spy agency Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
But the incident seemed to be a standalone with no enduring danger, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in a statement.
“At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are no known threats connected to this matter,” she said.
Federal and Victorian Police briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, along with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll, on the incident on Tuesday morning.
The agency is gearing up to deliver more security briefings to federal MPs, after reporting a ramp-up in threats against federal parliamentarians, high office-holders, and electorate officers in recent years.
A task force to disrupt high-impact, politically motivated violence and similar potential crimes has already charged 41 people for threatening politicians and higher-ups since being established in October 2025, according to the AFP.
Australia’s top spy boss also used the incident to issue a renewed plea for more civil political discourse, saying politically motivated violence was as grave a threat to national security as espionage and foreign interference.
“This incident occurred in an environment where politically motivated violence is more likely than previous years,” ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said in a statement.
But there is no recent evidence the alleged offender was on law enforcement’s radar, according to Victorian Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason.
Albanese has alleged the attack was clearly deliberate.
“This wasn’t something with a car just going off the off the road, this is something that is very clear was aimed at causing harm to Helen Haines,” the prime minister told News24 earlier on Oct. 20.
Bystander and local barber Ricky Jefferies had witnessed the alleged attack unfolding and intervened to apprehend the driver, whom he says had a knife, before police arrived to detain the 43-year-old.
By Lucinda Garbutt-Young and Will Nicholas in Canberra.
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