Indi MP Helen Haines critically injured in alleged car attack outside her Wangaratta office; police investigate

Summary

Independent Indi MP Helen Haines was critically injured outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, when she was hit by a car, in what reports describe as an alleged attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was deliberate and 'wasn't an accident', and that the driver did a U-turn to get back to where Haines was after passing her; a man was in custody. Channel News Asia reports the vehicle was a Toyota Land Cruiser and that police found a knife in the driver's car. The Guardian's live blog reports that Haines lost a leg and that surgeons were fighting to save the other after surgery at Melbourne's Alfred hospital, and Hindustan Times, citing a report, says the same. Al Jazeera reports she remains in critical condition. The Australian Federal Police, ASIO and a joint counter-terrorism taskforce are investigating, and politicians across parliament have condemned the alleged attack.

Timeline

1. ABC

   19 Oct 2026, 07:06 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says was a deliberate attack, sparking shock and anger across the political spectrum.

2. ABC

   19 Oct 2026, 07:40 UTCSource ↗

   ABC's live blog reports that Albanese said counter-terrorism police are investigating and that a man has been arrested after Haines was 'attacked' near her electorate office in Victoria's north-east.

3. The Guardian

   19 Oct 2026, 11:10 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Haines was critically injured in an alleged attack involving a vehicle outside her Wangaratta office, with a man in custody and the AFP, ASIO and a joint counter-terror taskforce investigating.

4. Al Jazeera

   19 Oct 2026, 13:49 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that Australian MP Dr. Helen Haines is in critical condition after being struck by a car outside her office in Victoria.

5. Channel News Asia

   20 Oct 2026, 02:40 UTCSource ↗

   Channel News Asia reports that Haines was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in Wangaratta, that she lost a leg, and that police found a knife in the driver's car after he was arrested.

6. The Guardian

   20 Oct 2026, 05:35 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian's live blog reports that Haines lost a leg and surgeons were fighting to save the other, that she underwent surgery at Melbourne's Alfred hospital, and that Albanese said the driver did a U-turn to get back to where Haines was after passing her.

7. Hindustan Times

   20 Oct 2026, 06:37 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Haines is in critical condition after being struck by a car outside her Wangaratta office, that Albanese called the incident deliberate, and, citing a report, that she lost a leg.