- Published
Australian MP Helen Haines is critically ill in hospital in Melbourne after being hit by a car in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says may have been a deliberate attack.
uncertain
Albanese → publish → car
The independent MP, 65, was struck outside her constituency office in Wangaratta, in the state of Victoria, on Monday afternoon.
asserted
MP → strike → afternoon
A man, 43, from the nearby town of Tarrawingee was detained at the scene by a passerby and police say a knife was found in the car.
asserted
knife → detain → car
Police are investigating whether it was an "intentional act" but say they do not believe there is an "ongoing threat to the community".
asserted
they → investigate → community
Political leaders have expressed shock and dismay, with Albanese saying "there is no place for violence in a democracy".
asserted
Albanese → express → democracy
While Albanese said it was too early to understand the motive behind what had happened, he did say the political temperature had been rising in Australia.
asserted
temperature → say → Australia
His Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke backed up that statement with figures showing that reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the past year.
asserted
reports → back → year
Haines was hit by a white Toyota Landcruiser at 15:35 (04:35 GMT) outside her office on Murphy Street in Wangaratta, police say.
asserted
police → hit → Wangaratta
The town, which has a population of around 30,000, is a few hours north-east of Melbourne.
asserted
which → have → Melbourne
A witness told Australian broadcaster ABC they had heard a bang and seen a woman pinned between two cars, external.
asserted
woman → tell → cars
Haines was initially taken to a hospital in Wangaratta but later moved to Melbourne by helicopter.
asserted
Haines → take → helicopter
After being subdued and detained by the passersby, the suspect was arrested by police.
asserted
suspect → subdue → police
Announcing that counter terror police were involved in the investigation, the prime minister said: "This wasn't an accident.
asserted
This → announce → investigation
There was a deliberate act, it would appear."
asserted
it → be → ?
In a statement, Victoria Police said: "At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.
"
asserted
this → say → stage
It is not known yet if the parties are known to each other...
asserted
parties → know → other
The investigation remains ongoing."
Although not necessarily a household name across Australia, in the political sphere Helen Haines is both well-known and well regarded as an anti-corruption campaigner.
asserted
Haines → remain → campaigner
In an age of increasingly divisive politics, she is seen by many as a unifying force.
asserted
she → see → force
The independent MP has only been a federal parliamentarian for a relatively short time, having been elected in 2019.
asserted
MP → elect → 2019
However, in that time she has become an influential advocate for integrity in politics.
asserted
she → become → politics
Haines proposed legislation for a national anti-corruption watchdog in 2021, and has been credited for driving the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission under Labor in the previous parliamentary term.
asserted
Haines → propose → term
She currently sits on the parliamentary committee responsible for its oversight.
asserted
She → sit → oversight
Haines has often banded together with other key independents on issues that include climate action and gender equality.
asserted
that → band → action
Allegra Spender, another independent MP who has collaborated with Haines, called her "the best of us".
asserted
who → collaborate → us
An Australian parliamentary report warned last year that threats and physical attacks had increased "significantly over the past decade".
asserted
threats → warn → decade
A threat assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation - the country's equivalent of MI5 in the UK - warned last year that the risk of politically motivated violence was "already flashing red".
asserted
risk → warn → violence
Albanese became emotional as he talked about Haines in a live television interview on ABC's 730.
asserted
he → become → 730
He appeared close to tears when asked whether he and his colleagues talked among themselves about the threats and risks they face.
asserted
they → appear → threats
"Yes," he replied, adding: "My concern at this point in time is for one, one of my colleagues."
asserted
concern → reply → colleagues
He described Haines as having "integrity".
asserted
He → describe → integrity
Opposition leader Angus Taylor - head of the Liberal Party - said he was "deeply saddened and distressed" by the news, and that Australians would be "angry and appalled by the attack on Helen"
asserted
Australians → say → Helen
Senator Matt Canavan, leader of The Nationals, said his heart went out to Haines and her family "upon the news of this shocking attack"
Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge said he was "horrified" to hear of the "apparent attack", adding: "Helen is an extraordinary human being and brings people together like few others"
asserted
Helen → say → others
Senator Pauline Hanson, One Nation leader, said violence against elected representatives is "never acceptable".
asserted
violence → say → representatives
She added: "Members of parliament and their staff must be able to serve their communities without fearing for their safety"
asserted
Members → add → safety
The Aporia
