Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines is in critical condition after she was allegedly deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce a terrorism task force investigation.
Haines, 65, was airlifted to hospital following the incident, which occurred on Monday. Victoria Police confirmed that a 43-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Prime Minister Albanese said it was too early to determine the motive behind the incident. However, he expressed concern about rising political hostility, particularly on social media, where anonymous users can make threatening and inflammatory comments.
Speaking to Australia's public broadcaster, ABC, Albanese warned that online discussions had contributed to an increasingly hostile political atmosphere, noting that people sometimes make comments on social media that they would never express in face-to-face conversations.
He stressed that politicians must remain able to interact freely with members of the public in supermarkets, on the streets and at community meetings, describing such engagement as an essential part of Australian democracy.
Police Say There Is No Further Threat to the Public
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said there was no further threat to the public following the incident.
Albanese also expressed sympathy for Haines, her family, friends, staff and constituents, while expressing hope for her full recovery.
In a statement shared on Haines' Facebook page, her family thanked bystanders who provided immediate assistance, healthcare workers who treated her and police officers who responded to the incident.
Who Is Helen Haines?
Haines previously worked in nursing, midwifery and academia before entering politics in 2019 as an independent representative for the federal electorate of Indi.
During her time in parliament, she has opposed several policy proposals, including measures that could make political donations to major parties more secretive, a proposed ban on mobile phones in immigration detention facilities and billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies.
The investigation into the attack is ongoing, and authorities have yet to establish the suspect's motive.
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