Australian MP Has Both Legs Amputated After Being Hit by Car
Australian MP Helen Haines has lost both legs after being hit by a car in an incident police have described as a deliberate attack. Haines is being treated in a Melbourne hospital and is in a stable condition.
Haines’s husband, Phil, said surgeons had been forced to amputate both of his wife’s legs after Monday’s incident near her office in Wangaratta, about 200 kilometres from Melbourne.
“The good news is that Helen is alive and stable. That is the most important thing for our family,” he told reporters on Wednesday (21 October 2026), as quoted by AFP.
“She has a very big heart. She is a caring and compassionate person,” Phil added, saying the family remained focused on Haines’s condition and character.
Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent in connection with the incident. The charges include dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and injuring a public official.
The last charge is a federal offence carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Nugent also faces charges relating to the cultivation and possession of cannabis.
He appeared at Wangaratta court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail. His next hearing is scheduled for 4 February.
The motive for the attack is still under investigation. Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush said investigators were examining several possibilities, including whether the suspect held radical views opposed to the government.
“We are examining social media networks, as well as interviewing witnesses, friends and colleagues,” Bush said, adding that police had no prior intelligence indicating Nugent posed an immediate threat.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett also highlighted an increase in threats against public officials. The case has prompted concern in Australia, where political violence is relatively rare but threats against elected representatives have reportedly risen in recent years.
Australia’s Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, called on the public to restore civility in political disagreements. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was a reminder that the world was becoming more dangerous and divided.
Haines, 65, is an independent MP who took office in 2019 after working as a nurse and midwife. She is known for advocating political transparency, anti-corruption measures and stronger policies to address climate change.