# MP attacked in Wangaratta, man charged

> Helen Haines remains critical after a vehicle attack in Victoria. Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving and harming a Commonwealth official.
- Title: MP attacked in Wangaratta, man charged · the Guardian
- Summary: Helen Haines remains critical after a vehicle attack in Victoria. Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving and harming a Commonwealth…
- Keywords: breaking, helen haines, brendan nugent, wangaratta, vehicle attack, victoria, independent mp, dangerous driving, news, politics, attacked, man
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/brendan-nugent-driver-alleged-attack-helen-haines-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-20T10:37:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, helen haines, brendan nugent, wangaratta, vehicle attack, victoria, independent mp, dangerous driving, news, politics
## MP airlifted after vehicle attack
Helen Haines, an independent MP, was airlifted from Wangaratta in northern Victoria to Melbourne's Alfred hospital on Monday night for emergency surgery. She remained in critical condition on Tuesday.
## Haines loses one leg in attack
Haines has lost one leg as a result of the attack. Surgeons were working to save the other leg after the incident on Monday.
## Man arrested at scene
Police confirmed a forty-three-year-old Tarrawingee man alleged to have driven the Toyota LandCruiser was arrested at the scene of the attack.
## Nugent charged with multiple offences
Brendan Nugent was charged on Tuesday night with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
## Attack was targeted, police say
Victoria police confirmed in a statement that they would allege the attack was targeted. Nugent is expected to appear at Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday.
## Nugent's family knew Haines for 20 years
Brendan Nugent's father Rod Nugent and his partner Christine Cunningham said Helen Haines had been their friend for more than twenty years. They described the incident as devastating and unfathomable.

> What happened to her yesterday is devastating and unfathomable.
## Nugent was environmental campaigner
Nugent was a long-term forestry campaigner with a master's degree in forest ecosystems science from the University of Melbourne.
## Colleagues shocked by arrest
Bertrand Lobert, chair of Save our Strathbogie Forest, said Nugent initially appeared thoughtful but drifted away. He called the arrest completely shocking, noting many in the group knew Haines personally and were friends.

> He was engaging, he was thoughtful and to hear what has happened now, if it all turns out to be true, is just completely shocking.
## Key takeaway

Independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured in an alleged vehicle attack in Wangaratta on Monday. Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and harming a Commonwealth public official.