Helen Haines remained hospitalized after authorities accused a 43-year-old man of deliberately striking her with an SUV outside her office.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian federal lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after she was allegedly struck repeatedly by an SUV outside her electorate office in northeastern Victoria, her husband said as the man accused in the attack appeared in court.
Haines, a 65-year-old independent member of Parliament representing the seat of Indi, was injured Monday, Oct. 19, in her hometown of Wangaratta. She was flown by helicopter to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne after the attack. Her husband, Phil Haines, said Wednesday that doctors amputated her left leg on Monday and later determined that her right leg could not be saved. He said she remained alive and stable despite the severity of her injuries.
Police allege Haines was outside her electorate office when a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV was used to strike her. Witness accounts provided to authorities indicated the vehicle hit her and pinned her against her own car before reversing and striking her again. Police have described the incident as a targeted attack, but investigators had not established or publicly announced a motive as of Wednesday.
Brendan Nugent, 43, of nearby Tarrawingee, appeared Wednesday in Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court. He has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official. Nugent did not enter a plea or apply for bail during the initial hearing and was ordered to remain in custody until his next scheduled court appearance in February.
Nugent’s lawyer, Chirag Patel, told the court that his client had possible mental health concerns, although he had not been diagnosed with a mental illness. The lawyer also said Nugent has idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological condition affecting the spinal cord, and had suffered a concussion. Authorities have not said that any medical condition caused or contributed to the alleged attack, and police were continuing to investigate what led to the incident.
Phil Haines spoke publicly about his wife’s condition for the first time Wednesday outside the Melbourne hospital. He said her family was grateful she survived and emphasized that her heart and mind remained in good condition. The couple is approaching their 40th wedding anniversary in November. Haines remained under medical care following the amputations, with her recovery expected to continue well beyond the immediate treatment of her injuries.
The attack has also renewed debate in Australia over the security of elected officials. Federal lawmakers are generally more accessible to the public than politicians in many other countries, and most do not have permanent personal protection. Senior opposition lawmaker James Paterson called for a review of security arrangements, particularly around electorate offices where lawmakers regularly meet constituents and enter or leave without dedicated security details.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities should do what they can to protect lawmakers while preserving their ability to interact directly with the public. Australian lawmakers also received briefings from security agencies following the attack. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Kissy Barrett said providing individual police protection to every federal lawmaker would require extensive resources.
The security discussion comes as authorities report an increase in threats directed at public officials. Federal police received 1,067 reports of threatening, harassing, nuisance or offensive communications targeting senior officeholders, lawmakers and their staff during the most recent fiscal year, according to officials. That represented a 12% increase from the previous year. Police said suspects are regularly charged in cases involving threats against public figures.
Haines, a former nurse and rural health researcher, entered federal Parliament as an independent and has represented Indi since 2019. Her injuries have drawn expressions of concern across Australia’s political spectrum. Police continue to investigate the alleged attack and have not announced a motive. Nugent remains in custody while Haines continues treatment and recovery in Melbourne.
Author note: Last updated October 23, 2026.