# Australian PM: Lawmaker Critically Injured in Deliberate Car Attack

> Australian PM says lawmaker critically injured by car was 'no accident' in deliberate attack.
- Title: Australian PM: Lawmaker Critically Injured in Deliberate Car…
- Summary: Australian PM says lawmaker critically injured by car was 'no accident' in deliberate attack. Australian PM Anthony Albanese says a federal independent…
- Keywords: australian prime minister, helen haines, toyota land cruiser, wangaratta, victoria police, counterterrorism team, political violence, news, local, Australian, Lawmaker, Critically
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/19/world/australian-lawmaker-hit-by-car
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: australian prime minister, helen haines, toyota land cruiser, wangaratta, victoria police, counterterrorism team, political violence, news, local
## Australian PM: Lawmaker Critically Injured
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a federal independent lawmaker was critically injured in a deliberate car attack, not an accident.

> This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.
## Driver Arrested at Scene
The 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene by a passerby and will be interviewed by police.

> A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota.
## Critical Injuries and Hospitalization
Helen Haines, 65, was taken to a hospital with critical injuries after being struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV.

> Haines, who was first elected to the Parliament in 2019, was taken to a hospital with critical injuries, police said.
## Rising Threats to Politicians
Police reported threats against parliamentarians doubled over three years, with more than 1,000 threats in the 2025-2026 financial year.

> Police data showed more than 1,000 such threats against politicians in the 2025-2026 financial year.
## Key takeaway

Australian PM Anthony Albanese says a federal independent lawmaker was critically injured in a deliberate car attack, not an accident.