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.”