'Targeted' attack on much-loved MP leaves Australian town heartbroken
News Source
β’Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:10:42 GMT
π° What Happened
The town of Wangaratta in north-east Victoria is in shock after what police call a targeted attack on its local MP. Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her office on Monday afternoon. She lost both legs and is being treated in Melbourne.
Locals say they cannot understand why anyone would hurt her. Shops have put flowers and notes outside her office, and hundreds of people joined a candlelight vigil at the town's Anglican cathedral.
π The Backstory
Haines, a former nurse and midwife, was first elected as the independent MP for Indi in 2019. She is best known for years of campaigning that led to a national anti-corruption commission in 2023. She has also pushed for better roads, rail and health services in her region.
A local man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged over the attack. His family says they have been friends with Haines for decades. A barber who pinned him down says he is no hero.
π― Why It Matters
Political violence is rare in Australia. For a small town, the attack feels personal, because the MP was someone people knew by name.
The town of Wangaratta in north-east Victoria is in shock after what police call a targeted attack on its local MP. Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her office on Monday afternoon. She lost both legs and is being treated in Melbourne.
Locals say they cannot understand why anyone would hurt her. Shops have put flowers and notes outside her office, and hundreds of people joined a candlelight vigil at the town's Anglican cathedral.
Haines, a former nurse and midwife, was first elected as the independent MP for Indi in 2019. She is best known for years of campaigning that led to a national anti-corruption commission in 2023. She has also pushed for better roads, rail and health services in her region.
A local man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged over the attack. His family says they have been friends with Haines for decades. A barber who pinned him down says he is no hero.
Political violence is rare in Australia. For a small town, the attack feels personal, because the MP was someone people knew by name.