Helen Haines vigil sparks calls for greater safety for women in politics – video
News Source
•Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:18:19 GMT
📰 What Happened
Hundreds of people gathered in Wodonga on Wednesday night to support Helen Haines. The independent MP for Indi was badly hurt in an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office on Monday. Many people at the vigil were in shock. They kept asking: "Why Helen?"
Speaker after speaker praised her kindness, her work with young people, and her habit of listening to everyone. One community member called her reasonable, fair and considerate. Former independent MP Cathy McGowan told the crowd that politics needs to be safer, especially for women in rural areas. "We can't let that violence win," she said.
🔍 The Backstory
Helen Haines has held the seat of Indi since 2019. She took over from Cathy McGowan, who won the seat as an independent in 2013. Indi is a large rural electorate in north-east Victoria. The area has faced bushfires, floods and drought in recent years. Haines has built a name for working across party lines.
Her husband said she lost both legs but that her "heart and mind are in good shape". Her chief of staff said the team was devastated. Most staff were in the office when the incident happened.
🎯 Why It Matters
The crowd showed that most people want debate, not violence. Local support also helps a hurt MP's staff keep serving the community.
Hundreds of people gathered in Wodonga on Wednesday night to support Helen Haines. The independent MP for Indi was badly hurt in an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office on Monday. Many people at the vigil were in shock. They kept asking: "Why Helen?"
Speaker after speaker praised her kindness, her work with young people, and her habit of listening to everyone. One community member called her reasonable, fair and considerate. Former independent MP Cathy McGowan told the crowd that politics needs to be safer, especially for women in rural areas. "We can't let that violence win," she said.
Helen Haines has held the seat of Indi since 2019. She took over from Cathy McGowan, who won the seat as an independent in 2013. Indi is a large rural electorate in north-east Victoria. The area has faced bushfires, floods and drought in recent years. Haines has built a name for working across party lines.
Her husband said she lost both legs but that her "heart and mind are in good shape". Her chief of staff said the team was devastated. Most staff were in the office when the incident happened.
The crowd showed that most people want debate, not violence. Local support also helps a hurt MP's staff keep serving the community.