# 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.
- Title: Australian lawmaker hit by car in apparent deliberate attack
- Summary: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says independent MP Helen Haines was deliberately struck by a vehicle outside her office, as threats against politicians…
- Keywords: helen haines, anthony albanese, australia, parliament, wangaratta, violence against politicians, counterterrorism, news, Australian, lawmaker, hit, car
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/19/g-s1-148737/australia-lawmaker-critically-injured
- Published: 2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: helen haines, anthony albanese, australia, parliament, wangaratta, violence against politicians, counterterrorism, news
## 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
## Key takeaway

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.