Indi MP Helen Haines critically injured in alleged deliberate car strike outside Wangaratta office

Summary

Indi MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition after being struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in Victoria's north-east. RTÉ reports that police and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the strike was deliberate. ABC reports that Albanese said the driver did a U-turn before hitting Haines, that counter-terrorism police are investigating, and that a man has been arrested after Haines was "attacked" near her office. The Guardian's live blog describes the incident as an alleged attack and reports that Victoria Police are treating it as an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community. Police said there was nothing to indicate at this stage that Haines and the other party were known to each other, and investigators are working through an extensive crime scene, with the Major Collision Investigation Unit travelling from Melbourne. The Guardian also reports that politicians condemned the incident and that the premier said he was deeply appalled.

Timeline

1. RTÉ

   19 Oct 2026, 09:21 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that police and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Helen Haines is in critical condition after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta.

2. The Guardian

   19 Oct 2026, 10:44 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian's live blog reports that Victoria Police are treating the alleged attack on Helen Haines as an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community, and that politicians condemned it.

3. ABC

   19 Oct 2026, 18:31 UTCSource ↗

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