A 43-year-old man has been arrested after Australian independent Member of Parliament Helen Haines was struck by a four-wheel-drive vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, in an incident Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described as deliberate.
Haines, 65, was reportedly in a car park near her regional office when the incident occurred. The suspect, who is from nearby Tarrawingee, was apprehended at the scene by a bystander before police took over the investigation.
Victoria Police said the man would be interviewed in connection with the incident. Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said investigators were treating it as an isolated incident and had not identified an ongoing threat to the public.
Haines was taken for medical care following the incident. Her family confirmed that she was receiving treatment and thanked bystanders, emergency personnel and police for their response.
Albanese said the circumstances appeared to point to an intentional act, although investigators had yet to establish the suspect’s motive. A joint counter-terrorism team has joined the investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the suspect’s background.
The Prime Minister also condemned political violence, warning against rising hostility in public discourse and stressing that violence has no place in a democratic society.
Haines has represented the federal electorate of Indi in Victoria since 2019. Before entering politics, she worked as a nurse, midwife and public health researcher.
Police investigations are ongoing. The suspect has been arrested, but formal charges have not been announced in the information provided. The motive for the incident remains unclear.
