# Man charged after MP hit by car in Victoria

> A 43-year-old has been charged after Australian MP Helen Haines was struck by a vehicle in an alleged targeted attack.
- Title: Man charged after MP hit by car in Victoria · BBC News
- Summary: A 43-year-old has been charged after Australian MP Helen Haines was struck by a vehicle in an alleged targeted attack. A 43-year-old man has been charged…
- Keywords: breaking, helen haines, victoria police, wangaratta, dangerous driving, targeted attack, australian politics, news, world, Man, charged, hit
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c678pnn9mpgno
- Published: 2026-10-20T11:25:35.266+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, helen haines, victoria police, wangaratta, dangerous driving, targeted attack, australian politics, news, world
## MP hit by car in Victoria
Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in Victoria on Monday. A 43-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a public official.
## Haines in critical condition after surgery
Haines, sixty five, the independent member for Indi, is in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery at a Melbourne hospital. She was airlifted there after bystanders rushed to help.
## Suspect's family knew Haines for decades
Local media named the alleged attacker as environmental activist Brendan Nugent. His father Rod Nugent and partner Christine Cunningham said they had been friends with Haines for more than twenty years.

> for more than 20 years
## Police say attack was targeted
Police say they will allege the incident was targeted. They searched a property in Tarrawingee, around twelve kilometres from Wangaratta, and say there are currently no other known threats connected to this matter.
## Community gathers to support Haines
At a vigil on Tuesday, locals queued in the aisle of Holy Trinity Cathedral to light candles. Wangaratta's main street, where Haines's office is located, filled with growing bouquets left on the pavement.

> May you recover quickly and continue to be a light in this world.
## Key takeaway

A 43-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving and causing harm to a public official after hitting MP Helen Haines with a car in Victoria on Monday.