Key events
Melissa Davey
Mark Butler calls for greater tolerance in political life
Here’s more from the federal health minister, Mark Butler, who spoke to Sunrise about a “huge increase in hate and intolerance” in public commentary:
It’s not just here in Australia, we’re seeing this around the world, but that hate could turn into violence.
There have been warnings about this for some time now: the need to turn the temperature down and for us all to be a little bit more tolerant of each other.
Melissa Davey
The health minister Mark Butler has told the Today Show that “it’s hard to imagine a more gentle, compassionate, decent member of parliament than Helen”.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard her raise her voice, and I can’t say that about many MPs. The debate can be very vigorous, but from Helen it’s always incredibly respectful.
Butler said given her experience as a nurse and midwife, along with her doctorate in public health, he works with Haines more than many other of his parliamentary colleagues and values her expertise.
I can only imagine the shock and distress that Helen’s family are feeling right now as they wait for news about her surgery overnight, also her community, her staff, her friends.
This is incredibly confronting, and we’re all waiting for what we hope will be positive news about Helen’s very serious injuries.”
Tom McIlroy
Independent Jacqui Lambie pays tribute to Haines
Jacqui Lambie has issued a statement about Helen Haines this morning:
I echo the sentiments of my colleagues when I say that Helen Haines is truly the best of us.
My heart goes out to Helen’s family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
We are all praying for her speedy recovery.
What we know so far
Here are some of the developments we’ve heard since this morning:
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Federal independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, is in a critical condition after being struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, at about 3.35pm on Monday
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She has been taken to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where she underwent surgery overnight
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A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee is in custody, and the alleged attack is being investigated by the Australian federal police, Asio and the joint counter-terror taskforce. The motive is not yet known. A knife was allegedly found in his car after he was detained by a passerby when he got out of his vehicle
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Police are expected to interview the suspect in the alleged attack this morning
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A local barber has been praised for stepping in to apprehend the alleged attacker
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Politicians across the political spectrum including the prime minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and fellow independents have sent well wishes to Haines
Benita Kolovos
Female politicians ‘cop it a lot worse’ than their male counterparts, Victorian premier says
Here’s more from Victorian premier, Ben Carroll:
We just acknowledged 14 years since Julia Gillard’s powerful misogyny speech, and I was then thinking too about Premier Allan and some of the billboards and misogyny she faced … The federal minister for small business Anne Aly has had 19 death threats in one week. If that is not alarm bells for everyone … we need to step up, do more.
Asked by host Raf Esptein if he was told there was a link between online misogyny and this alleged attack, Carroll replied: “No, I have not been told that … I think we need to let the investigations take place.
Carroll said he would be attending a briefing with the Victoria police chief commissioner, Mike Bush, representatives from Asio and the AFP and Anthony Albanese later today.
He said he would also work with the Victorian Electoral Commissioner and Victoria Police to bolster security as the state heads toward a November election.
Carroll said he had spoken with the Victorian Greens, Nationals and opposition leader, as well as local member Tim McCurdy.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian premier urges focus on online hate and misogyny
The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, says he was “shocked and sickened” to hear the news of the attack last night and described Helen Haines as a “rare flower in public life” who has dedicated her life to caring for others.
Asked by ABC radio host Raf Epstein is he was surprised, Carroll says:
This act of violence is just unfathomable that it’s occurred in Australia … Let’s put an action plan together. Let’s look at online hate. Let’s look at misogyny. Let’s look at the targeting of female representatives.
Carroll says while law enforcement agencies need to do their work, he believes there’s “no doubt” we are living in a “more polarised” world driven by algorithms.
In this post-fact information system, there are no consequences for what goes on on online platforms. I’ve complained to Meta and X, and I just get the email back [saying] there’s no breach of any duties there. People can put up continuously misinformation and disinformation online, and there’s no consequences.
Tess Ikonomou
Independent MP Sophie Scamps, who holds the Sydney seat of Mackellar, told ABC RN Haines would advocate for her community in the “strongest but most respectful way”.
She does it with this immense grace. And I’ll even just note like Monique (Ryan) when we (independents) all first got elected back in 2022, made these t-shirts ‘What would Helen do?’
She is an inspiration to all of us because of the grace and humour with which she holds herself.
Safety ‘getting worse’ in lead up to Victorian state election, state MP says
Here’s more from Nationals Victorian state MP Tim McCurdy, whose electorate covers Wangaratta:
It’s certainly getting worse with a state election, but I mean, that has no boundaries.
Helen being a federal MP. She’s not tied up in this state election at all.
But certainly the heat certainly is in the community – all communities – as this election is coming up.
Asked by ABC News Breakfast about the issues igniting the political heat, McCurdy says renewables are a significant concern.
People aren’t anti-renewable in this area, but they are anti- the fact that we don’t have a say, and farmers and communities don’t have a say about what’s happening in their community.
Guardian Australia’s Victorian state correspondent, Benita Kolovos, has written about renewables ahead of the election.
Stephanie Convery
I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Kat Wong now, who will take you through the rest of this morning’s updates.
Haines in critical but stable condition after being rammed twice in alleged attack: Burke
Tom McIlroy
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, says Helen Haines was twice rammed in the alleged attack in Wangaratta on Monday.
Speaking on ABC radio, Burke said the Indi MP remains in a critical but stable condition on Tuesday morning.
He said:
What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time.
A bystander ran towards the scene, got the driver out of the vehicle and held the driver until police arrived. And I think every Australian is grateful for those moments when a hero like this runs towards the most dangerous place.
Wangaratta, the rural city in which the incident occurred last night, is a tight-knit community in north-east Victoria. Wangaratta city proper had about 20,000 people at the last census, while the broader LGA had just under 30,000.
Located on the flatlands at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers, it’s rural centre servicing the wine and produce region of north-east Victoria such as Milawa, Beechworth and the King Valley, and a gateway to the mountains.
Suspect to be interviewed by police this morning
Police expect to interview the suspect in the alleged attack on MP Helen Haines this morning, acting superintendent Ashley Mason has said, speaking just now to ABC News Breakfast.
Wangaratta mayor praises ‘brave’ local barber who stepped in
The mayor of Wangaratta, Irene Grant, has expressed gratitude to the “brave” bystander – a local barber – who stepped in to apprehend the alleged attacker.
Speaking to RN, Grant said:
I spoke to the barber this morning and he just shrugged his shoulders. He seemed to just take it in his stride. This was something that he had to do and he did it.
And he didn’t, he was very modest. He was extraordinarily modest about the very brave action that he took yesterday … he did an amazing job.
Tess Ikonomou
Albanese ‘shaken’ by alleged attack on MP
Anthony Albanese said he feels “shaken” after the attack on Haines.
Still speaking on ABC News Breakfast, he said:
The fact that an incident like this can occur is something that does shake all of us … It will have an impact on all Australians, not just members of parliament.
Albanese said while “it’s about Helen today and her recovery”, he expected “the debate about political discourse and the way we conduct ourselves will, of course, be ongoing”.
The prime minister will be briefed later this morning on the investigation into the attack.
He described Haines as:
[Characterised] by her kindness, her compassion, her diligence, her intelligence. She’s someone who is very passionate about advocating for the interests of north Victoria.
She’s someone who … was widely respected right across the political spectrum because the way that she advocates is very respectable.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/oct/20/helen-haines-independent-mp-alleged-car-attack-wangaratta-melbourne-hospital-ntwnfb
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