Who is Helen Haines, the Australian MP injured after being hit by a car outside her office?

Helen Haines, an independent Australian lawmaker, was critically injured after being hit by a car outside her district office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday. A 43-year-old driver was arrested from the scene and is reportedly being questioned by police, including members of the counter-terrorism unit, as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to Victoria Police, the 65-year-old lawmaker was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in Wangaratta, about a three-hour drive northeast of Melbourne. She was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries. Police also seized a knife from the vehicle.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was too early to establish a motive. He confirmed that a counter-terrorism task force had been activated to investigate the suspect.


“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 at a press conference.

He also thanked emergency responders for their efforts, adding: “I want to thank the first responders for their extraordinary work. There is a major police investigation underway and I can confirm that the suspect is in custody.”

Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason told the Associated Press that police had ruled out any threat to the public.

Meanwhile, Haines’ family thanked the bystanders and emergency workers who helped her after the incident. “We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response,” the family said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.

Who is Helen Haines, the Australian lawmaker?

Helen Haines is an independent member of Australia's Parliament representing Indi, a rural electorate in Victoria, northeast of Melbourne. She was first elected to the Parliament in 2019. Her election marked a milestone in Australian politics, making her the first independent to succeed another independent, Cathy McGowan, in the same parliamentary seat.

Indi had traditionally been considered a conservative stronghold. In Parliament, Haines has advocated for issues including climate change and regional housing. She has also worked with the Labor government to establish Australia's National Anti-Corruption Commission. Her political career has been closely linked to her work in regional communities and her focus on local concerns.

Before becoming a Parliamentarian, Haines had worked as a nurse, midwife and academic. According to her official website, Haines grew up with four brothers on a dairy farm near Colac in southwestern Victoria. She spent three decades working in rural healthcare as a nurse, midwife and academic. She also completed a doctoral thesis at Sweden’s Uppsala University focusing on childbirth.