‘Deliberate’ car ramming of Australian MP an isolated incident, police say
Australian independent MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office on Monday, while police have classified the incident as isolated.
The 43-year-old driver, identified by local media as a man from Tarrawingee, Victoria, remains in custody. The attack occurred outside Haines’s office in Wangaratta, approximately 200 kilometers northwest of Melbourne.
Witnesses reported the vehicle performed a U-turn before striking Haines twice. Bystander Ricky Jefferies, a former nurse running a nearby barber shop, intervened after initially believing the crash was accidental.
Jefferies restrained the attacker and removed a knife from him once he realized the severity of the situation. The prime minister emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack.
It’s clear that there was a deliberate act here. This wasn’t an accident, someone just skidding off the road.
Haines underwent emergency surgery overnight and has lost a leg. Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the attack as deeply disturbing on social media platform X.
Police are working to identify potential charges, including the offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The attack follows a documented rise in threats and abuse directed at Australian politicians in recent years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke noted that the political climate has intensified.
Haines, a former nurse and midwife, entered parliament in 2019. She is known for her socially conscious policies on the environment and transparency.
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