Independent federal MP Helen Haines remains fighting for life after being struck by a car in a targeted attack outside her electorate office on Monday afternoon, prompting an investigation by counter-terrorism authorities.
asserted
Haines → fight → authorities
The 65-year-old mother of three was rushed to hospital with 'critical injuries' after she was hit by the white 1997 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier about 3.30pm in the regional northern Victorian city of Wangaratta.
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she → rush → Wangaratta
She was retrieving belongings from the boot of her car - which had been stopped in a parking bay on Murphy St as she prepared for a remote television interview - when she was struck after witnesses said the driver did a U-turn at aimed the vehicle at her.
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driver → retrieve → her
She was pinned by the vehicle and suffered 'severe' lower body injuries.
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She → pin → injuries
She was treated at a local hospital before later being airlifted 250km southeast to Melbourne, where there are fears the injuries could cause her to lose one of her legs.
uncertain
her → treat → legs
A local barber who witnessed the crash said he ran over and pulled the driver from the car before wrestling him to the ground, with a knife also allegedly seized from the vehicle.
uncertain
knife → witness → vehicle
Police confirmed a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, just outside Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene.
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man → confirm → scene
No charges were laid as of late Monday night.
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charges → lay → night
The area in Victoria's High Country is just half an hour from Porepunkah, a small community which made national headlines in August last year when local man Dezi Freeman shot and killed two police officers before going on the run.
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Freeman → make → run
While there is no confirmation as to the motive of Monday's attack, the area is known as a haven for those adhering to off-the-grid and 'sovereign citizen' lifestyles.
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area → be → lifestyles
Freeman staged an anti-authoritarian rant outside the Wangaratta court in 2022 complaining about police corruption, and the area was subject to door knocks by plain-clothed officers during the manhunt for him in the wake of the police shootings.
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area → stag → shootings
MP Helen Haines is fighting for her life in hospital after being struck by a car in a deliberate attack
The white Land Cruiser believed to have been used in the attack
Wangaratta is not far from the the community of Porepunkah where Desi Freeman shot two police officer in August last year
Freeman remained on the run for 216 days before he himself was gunned down in a shootout with police in Thologolong about two-and-half-hours from Wangaratta.
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he → fight → Wangaratta
A visibly shaken Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed to the media just after 7pm on Monday night that counterterrorism units and ASIO were investigating the attack but stressed the motive was as yet 'unknown'.
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motive → shake → attack
Albanese later told the ABC's 7.30: 'This wasn't an accident.
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This → tell → 7.30
There was a deliberate act, it would appear.
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it → be → ?
'We certainly hope for good news about Helen's condition over the next 24 hours'.
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We → hope → hours
It's understood that the arrested man was known to police and had been 'on the radar'.
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man → understand → radar
Acting Victoria Police Superintendent Ashley Mason confirmed that Haines had sustained 'critical' injuries to her lower body, but that police believed there was no further threat to the community.
Messages of support have poured in for Haines from across the political divide including messages of support from Greens leader David Shoebridge, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and state Liberal counterpart Jess Wilson.
Hanson took to social media to decry 'violence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for'.
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they → act → whatever
A visibly shaken Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke address the media on Monday night after the attack
Pauline Hanson offered her support to Haines in the wake of the alleged attack
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Hanson → shake → attack
'I am horrified and saddened that Helen Haines has been seriously injured in an attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta today,' Hanson wrote.
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Hanson → sadden → Wangaratta
I wish her a full and speedy recovery, and I know Australians everywhere are wishing the same.'
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Australians → wish → same
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said he was praying for Haines
The Prime Minister reiterated his earlier calls to 'turn the temperature down' in political discourse, but said he wasn't aware of any threats made toward Haines in the lead up to the incident.
Home Affairs minister Tony Burke said that in 2024 there had been 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against politicians, but that this number rose to 1,067 in the last year.
'Our thoughts are all with Helen, her family, her community and her friends.'
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thoughts → say → Helen
he said
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he → say → ?
Fellow independent MP Allegra Spender said many were fearful there would be 'some sort of violent incident' against politicians in Australia in the lead up to the attack on Haines.
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many → say → Haines
'I think we've seen an increase in violent language, and also some of the actions, jostling and other kinds of actions against politicians,' she said.
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she → think → politicians
Allegra Spender said there was a growing sense of anxiety that politicians would be the target of violence
Haines pictured with her husband Phil at the 2024 Midwinter Ball at Parliament House
'
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Haines → say → House
I think many people have feared there would be some sort of violent incident against Australian politicians and think this is of huge concern because I think we take pride in the fact that in Australia, politicians are just like everyone else.
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politicians → think → everyone
You treat them just like anybody else, but they've got to be acceptable and that's really important.'
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that → treat → anybody
Haines' family released a statement in the wake of the incident, thanking first responders for their swift response and asking for privacy amid the ongoing investigation.
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family → release → investigation
'This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care,' the statement reads.
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statement → involve → care
'Our family, and Helen's staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media.
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privacy → make → public
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