An Australian federal independent lawmaker has been critically injured after being struck by a car outside her electoral office in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as a deliberate act.
Helen Haines, 65, was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV outside her office in Wangaratta, a city in Victoria state approximately 200 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, on Monday afternoon. The driver, a 43-year-old man, was apprehended at the scene by bystanders and handed over to police.
"This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear. We don't know what the motivation is," Albanese told national broadcaster ABC.
Police found a knife inside the Toyota and seized it. Haines was transported to hospital with critical injuries.
Albanese said Australia's national counterterrorism team, incorporating police and intelligence agencies, had been activated to investigate the incident. He said the alleged attacker's motive remained unknown.
"All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team and her community at this extremely difficult time. We are praying for her full recovery," Albanese said.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason confirmed the victim had suffered critical injuries, without publicly identifying her, in line with standard Australian police practice.
Haines entered parliament in 2019 after a career as a nurse and midwife. She was known for supporting stronger climate action and for her efforts to increase transparency in politics and combat corruption. Albanese described her as "incredibly hardworking" and "fiercely intelligent."
"She is fiercely intelligent but, most importantly, she's just a thoroughly decent human being," the prime minister said.
Her family issued a brief statement confirming she was receiving medical care and thanking bystanders and health workers for their swift response. The family asked that their privacy be respected and said it would offer no further comment.
"This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care," the statement read.
The attack has renewed safety concerns for Australian lawmakers. Politicians in the country have historically been highly accessible to the public and have generally gone about their duties without security officers present.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in 2025 that threats against parliamentarians had doubled over the preceding three years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday that police data showed more than 1,000 threats against politicians in the 2025-2026 financial year.
Albanese said it was "unfortunate" that a more polarised political climate had already prompted security changes for lawmakers.
"I think there has been a rise in temperature and there has been too much shouting, not enough discourse, not enough polite conversation and disagreement," he said. There was "no question" that social media played a part, he added.
"If you look at anyone's social media feeds and look at the comments, people will say things that they would never say face to face," Albanese said.
The incident draws comparisons to attacks on politicians in Britain, where the murders of two lawmakers prompted significant security reviews. Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.
In July, former politician and television personality Ann Widdecombe was found killed at her home. A man has been charged with murder and terrorism-related offences.
