From NPR · · 1m 20s
Australian lawmaker hit by car in apparent deliberate attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says independent MP Helen Haines was deliberately struck by a vehicle outside her office, as threats against politicians surge.
In brief
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says independent MP Helen Haines was deliberately struck by a vehicle outside her office, as threats against politicians surge. Australian independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured when struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in Wangaratta on Monday in what Prime…
Independent MP struck by SUV
Helen Haines, 65, was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her electoral district office in Wangaratta, Victoria on Monday afternoon. She was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
Prime minister calls it deliberate
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC: "This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear. We don't know what the motivation is." The national counterterrorism team is investigating.
“This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.”
Driver arrested at scene
A 43-year-old driver was arrested by a passerby at the scene. Police seized a knife from inside the Toyota and said they are investigating whether this was an intentional act.
Threats against politicians doubled
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in 2025 that threats against parliamentarians had doubled over the past three years.
Albanese blames polarization and social media
Albanese told the ABC that an increasingly polarized political climate had led to security changes for lawmakers.
“a rise in temperature and there has been too much shouting, not enough discourse”
What it means
Australian independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured when struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in Wangaratta on Monday in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a deliberate attack, not an accident.
