Australian MP Helen Haines lost both her legs after being hit by a\ncar earlier this week.<\/p>\n
Haines, 65, is an independent MP, meaning she is not affiliated with\na political party.<\/p>\n
On Monday (19 October), she was hit by a Toyota LandCruiser outside\nher office in Wangaratta, in the state of Victoria.<\/p>\n
She was reportedly struck while retrieving something from the boot of\nher car.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, said the LandCruiser\ndriver allegedly hit her twice.<\/p>\n
As a result, Haines\u2019s husband, Phil Haines, said both her legs had to\nbe amputated.<\/p>\n
The day after the incident, doctors tried to save her right leg after\nher left leg had been amputated. However, both legs ultimately had to be\nremoved because of the severity of her injuries.<\/p>\n
As of Friday afternoon Melbourne time (23 October), Haines remained\nin critical condition in hospital.<\/p>\n
Who hit her?<\/p>\n
Haines was allegedly struck by a man named Brendan Nugent, who\nappeared in court for the first time last Wednesday (21 October).<\/p>\n
In 2019, the 43-year-old praised Haines on social media as \u201ca\npolitician who takes climate change seriously\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to ABC News Verify, Nugent appeared to be an environmental\nactivist who frequently posted on social media while taking part in\nprotests. He was also known to have been an active member of the Save\nOur Strathbogie Forest group.<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s president, Bertram Lobert, told the ABC that Nugent had\nbeen an active member for about two years before the COVID-19 pandemic,\nbut that he had not heard from him since.<\/p>\n
What charges does he face?<\/p>\n
Nugent faces a number of charges, including dangerous driving causing\nserious injury and assaulting a Commonwealth public official.<\/p>\n
The maximum penalty for assaulting a Commonwealth public official is\n10 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Nugent also faces charges relating to the possession and cultivation\nof cannabis.<\/p>\n
Victoria Police said they believed the incident was targeted.<\/p>\n
At a press conference on Thursday (22 October), Victoria Police Chief\nCommissioner Mike Bush said further serious charges relating to the\nalleged attack on Haines were being considered.<\/p>\n
Bush was specifically asked about a possible attempted murder\ncharge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is always a consideration. Of course, we need to find and\nexamine the evidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Police have not confirmed a motive for the incident.<\/p>\n
Nugent\u2019s lawyer told the magistrate that his client had mental health\nissues and that this was his first experience in custody.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis. It is a\nneurological condition, and he has also suffered a concussion,\u201d the\nlawyer said.<\/p>\n
The lawyer added that Nugent was not currently taking medication, and\nit was unclear whether he had seen a doctor since his arrest.<\/p>\n
Idiopathic transverse myelitis is a spinal cord condition that can\ncause paralysis, numbness, tingling and sharp pain.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Tuesday (20 October), Nugent\u2019s father, Rod Nugent,\nand his partner, Christine Cunningham, said Haines had been their close\nfriend for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to express our sincere thanks to members of the local\ncommunity and the police who came to Helen\u2019s aid yesterday after that\nshocking and horrific crime,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will assist Victoria Police in any way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
They described Monday\u2019s incident as \u201cheartbreaking and difficult to\ncomprehend\u201d.<\/p>\n
How is Haines now?<\/p>\n
Haines was reported to remain in critical condition at The Alfred\nhospital in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Health staff were due to provide an update on her condition on Friday\nafternoon (23 October).<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday (21 October), her husband, Phil Haines, said her\nrecovery would be long and difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we know she is a fighter. She is a determined person who, with\nour support and love, will do her very best to recover,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that is what we hope for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Violence against Australian politicians is rising<\/p>\n
The incident involving Haines has prompted debate about violence\nagainst Australian politicians.<\/p>\n
The number of threats against MPs has quadrupled since 2020.<\/p>\n
According to AFP, 41 people have been charged over offences related\nto threats against MPs in the past year.<\/p>\n
Threats against candidates during the 2025 general election were also\nrecorded at a level 17 per cent higher than during the previous\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
Lowy Institute researcher Lydia Khalil said the attack on Haines was\n\u201cdeeply tragic but not surprising\u201d, given Australia\u2019s current political\nclimate.<\/p>\n
Khalil said misinformation and an \u201calarming\u201d collapse in trust were\nfuelling sharp criticism of political leadership.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australian-mp-loses-both-legs-after-being-hit-by-car-1792756417", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }