Helen Haines: Australian MP hit by a car has both legs amputated

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 08:42

An Australian MP hit by a car has had both of her legs amputated, her husband has said.

Helen Haines, 65, was rammed by a vehicle outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, some three hours northeast of Melbourne, on Monday.

Her husband said on Wednesday that doctors amputated the MP's left leg after she was struck twice by the vehicle and worked for days to save her right, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Speaking at a news conference, Phil Haines told reporters: "The good news in all this is Helen is ‌alive and she's stable. That is the most important thing for our family."

It came after the suspected attacker appeared in court.

Brendan Nugent, 43, a resident of Tarrawingee, within Haines' electorate, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official.

He was also charged with cannabis cultivation and possession, court filings show.

Haines, an independent MP who has championed causes including climate change and regional housing, remains in a critical condition.

During Nugent's brief court appearance on Wednesday, his lawyer said his client suffers from a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis and was also being treated for concussion, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

He added his client had some mental health concerns and it was his first time in custody.

There was no application for bail and the case was deferred until 4 February, with anti-terrorism police among the agencies investigating the incident.

Australian Police received no warning of any imminent danger from the alleged attacker, Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters.

She said: "What I can say ⁠is we didn't have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened on Monday afternoon."

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Victoria Police Chief Mike Bush added: "Motivation is one of these things that we absolutely need to explore.

"His motivation for this, what we allege is a deliberate attack, is very much a ⁠centrepiece of the investigation."

Haines had worked in nursing, midwifery and academia before being elected to parliament in 2019 for the rural seat of Indi, which ⁠she retained in both 2022 and 2025.

Sky News