double quotation markWhen he exited the Toyota, the driver, a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, was arrested at the scene by a passerby. He will be interviewed in relation to the incident.<\/p>\n
The woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries. A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota.<\/p>\n
At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.<\/p>\n
It is not known yet if the parties are known to each other. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are en route. The investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.26 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll<\/strong>, has issued a statement following the alleged attack on Helen Haines<\/strong>. It reads:<\/p>\n double quotation markI am deeply appalled by this violent attack on Helen Haines. My thoughts – and the thoughts of all Victorians – are with Helen, her family, her friends, her colleagues and her community.<\/p>\n I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents.<\/p>\n Thank you to police, paramedics, firefighters and witnesses for their immediate response.<\/p>\n An individual has been apprehended and I thank police for their swift action.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Albanese says ASIO, counter terrorism force examining potential motive<\/strong><\/p>\n Anthony Albanese<\/strong> says he wasn\u2019t aware of any threats to Helen Haines<\/strong>\u2019 before today\u2019s incident.<\/p>\n He says he won\u2019t speculate on any motive, but that counter terror authorities are investigating it.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe don\u2019t know what motivation is. So that is the work that\u2019s being undertaken by the Victorian police together with the Australian Federal Police, but also ASIO are engaged, once we\u2019ve established the counter\u2013terrorism taskforce, that was established very quickly after this incident which was in the later hours of this afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Albanese says authorities will be \u201cchecking on the history of the person who is in custody\u201d to try to establish motivation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Haines\u2019 \u2018health issues serious\u2019 says Albanese<\/strong><\/p>\n Anthony Albanese<\/strong> tells the ABC\u2019s 730, this was a \u201cvery serious incident\u201d and Helen Haines<\/strong>\u2019 health issues are serious.<\/p>\n He says he was initially informed it was a car accident. He then found out it was targeted and began making calls to police and the Victorian premier.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis wasn\u2019t an accident. And the suspect is in custody. It then came through, the news, that this had occurred. I changed my arrangements. I spoke with the AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett<\/strong>, who is returning from home from work overseas. I spoke with Ben Carroll<\/strong>. Before this program, I briefed Angus Taylor<\/strong>, the Leader of the Opposition, who has offered his full support. And we just engaged as well, my office and team, with Helen Haines\u2019 office. Our thoughts, first and foremost, are just for Helen\u2019s welfare, and we wish her a speedy recovery.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a>‘Deeply disturbing attack’: Wong, Shoebridge on Haines incident Federal politicians are reacting with shock to the incident involving independent MP Helen Haines<\/strong>, which prime minister Anthony Albanese<\/strong> called an \u201cattack\u201d this evening.<\/p>\n Foreign minister Penny Wong<\/strong> posted on social media that: \u201cMy thoughts are with [Haines] her loved ones, friends, team and community following this shocking and deeply disturbing attack. We are all hoping for Helen\u2019s full recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greens leader, David Shoebridge<\/strong>, wrote on X: \u201cHorrified to hear of the apparent attack on my friend and colleague Helen Haines. Helen is an extraordinary human being and brings people together like few others. In grief and solidarity wishing her a complete recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Steph Hodgins-May<\/strong>, the deputy Greens leader, said she was: \u201cdeeply shocked and saddened to hear reports of an attack on my friend and colleague Helen Haines.\u201d<\/p>\n double quotation markHelen is a wonderful person who cares deeply about her community and the people she represents. My heart goes out to Helen, and I wish her strength and a full recovery.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson<\/strong>, wrote online that she was \u201chorrified and saddened\u201d at the news\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markMy thoughts are with Helen, her family and her staff \u2026 Violence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for, is never acceptable in Australia. Members of parliament and their staff must be able to serve their communities without fearing for their safety. I thank the emergency services and the members of the public who rushed to help.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.36 EDT<\/p>\n Acting Supt, Ashley Mason, says he was \u201cnot aware\u201d of any prior concerns or incidents related to Helen Haines<\/strong> before today\u2019s incident.<\/p>\n Asked how long the area will remain a crime scene, he says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve got our investigators from the Major Collision Investigation Unit who are currently en route to Wangaratta from Melbourne. So they\u2019ve got significant travel time as well as the time it will take for them to thoroughly process the crime scene once they arrive, I think. There\u2019s some talk that there might be specialist terrorist-related police involved in the investigation. We\u2019ve notified our crime and counter-terrorism command and they\u2019re currently liaison and assisting our investigators.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.34 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018No ongoing threat to community\u2019: Victoria<\/a> police<\/strong><\/p>\n Mason tells journalists there is \u201cnothing to indicate at this stage\u201d that the two parties are known to each other, but police are still investigating.<\/p>\n He says there is no ongoing or further threat to the community or any other individual at this stage.<\/p>\n double quotation markI can provide some assurance to the community that we certainly do not have any intelligence that there is any further or ongoing threat to any other person or the broader community. We are treating this as an isolated incident at this point in time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.29 EDT<\/p>\n Acting Supt Ashley Mason<\/strong> is addressing the media in Wangaratta.<\/p>\n He says police are still investigating whether the incident was targeted.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve still got a lot to work through here. As you can imagine, it\u2019s been quite dynamic this afternoon. We\u2019ve got quite an extensive crime scene.<\/p>\n We have investigators present and they\u2019ll continue to work through and try and collect all available evidence to ascertain exactly what has occurred and how it has occurred. We\u2019ve got the Major Collision Investigation Unit who are currently en route from Melbourne.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mason also will not confirm whether the incident was politically motivated.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.28 EDT<\/p>\n Victorian police release statement<\/p>\n Victorian police have released a statement, and said they have arrested a man who allegedly struck a women with a vehicle in Wangaratta.<\/p>\n Police say the woman \u2013 known to be Haines \u2013 is in hospital with \u201ccritical injuries\u201d.<\/p>\n Police allege it was a white Toyota Landcruiser that struck Haines on Murphy Street at about 3.35pm, and that there was a knife seized from inside the vehicle.<\/p>\n The statement says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen he exited the Toyota, the driver, a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, was arrested at the scene by a passerby. He will be interviewed in relation to the incident.<\/p>\n The woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries. A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota.<\/p>\n At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.<\/p>\n It is not known yet if the parties are known to each other. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are en route. The investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.26 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese is asked whether the government knew about any threats made towards Helen Haines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Albanese says broadly, that he has called for the \u201ctemperature to be turned down\u201d in political discourse.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt is too early, though, to speculate on motivation, and we won\u2019t be doing so. We\u2019ll allow the authorities to do their work. Obviously, Helen Haines has suffered \u2026 this is a serious incident, and so our thoughts are with Helen and her recovery at this time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He\u2019s also asked about what security measures were in place for Haines ahead of the incidence.<\/p>\n Albanese says security arrangements are made \u201cbased upon the threat levels which are there\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markAnyone who looks at comments made and directed towards members of parliament and high office holders \u2013 there is increased heightened risk has occurred. Our thoughts are just very much with Helen, her family, her community at this time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He ends the press conference there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.20 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese says his thoughts and his prayers are with Haines, her family and her community.<\/p>\n double quotation markHelen Haines is incredibly hard-working. She is fiercely intelligent, but most importantly, she\u2019s just a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across the parliament, and from everyone who comes into contact with her, she is a well-loved member of her community, and this will come as an incredible shock to that community.<\/p>\n Our thoughts remain with Helen Haines at this very difficult time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The home affairs minister, Tony Burke<\/strong>, says there has been an increase in reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against MPs and their offices in recent years.<\/p>\n double quotation markThe year before last, we had 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against various high office holders. The more recent financial year, that 951 has gone to 1,067.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.15 EDT<\/p>\n PM says suspect in custody after alleged attack on Haines<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese<\/strong> is holding a press conference in Sydney, and says there is a major police investigation underway, and that a suspect is in custody.<\/p>\n He says the motive for the alleged attack is not known.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody.<\/p>\n The Australian Federal Police, Victorian Police, and Asio are working together on this. The joint counter-terrorism team has been activated, but the motive is not known.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.11 EDT<\/p>\n Nationals frontbencher Michael McCormack<\/strong>, whose electorate shares a border with Haines\u2019 has written on social media:<\/p>\n double quotation markSending my love and best wishes to Helen Haines<\/strong> for a full and speedy recovery. Such awful news.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we know so far about the incident:<\/p>\n We\u2019re expecting the prime minister and home affairs minister to speak shortly from Sydney.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Helen Haines’ family release statement<\/p>\n Helen Haines<\/strong>\u2019 family have released a statement to the media.<\/p>\n They have thanked bystanders, health workers and the police.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care. We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response.<\/p>\n Our family, and Helen\u2019s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media.<\/p>\n Please keep Helen in your thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.05 EDT<\/p>\n Good evening, Krishani Dhanji<\/strong> with you here. We will be bringing you live coverage of the prime minister\u2019s press conference, after an incident that has left independent MP Helen Haines <\/strong>injured.<\/p>\n The incident took place near her office in Wangaratta in regional Victoria<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Benita](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Benita_Kolovos.png\")
Benita Kolovos<\/p>\n\n
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Josh Butler<\/p>\n\n
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Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n