Helen Haines: independent MP in critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by car in Wangaratta – follow updates
The prime minister is speaking on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program this morning.
He says he will be briefed by police on the investigation into the alleged attack on Helen Haines later this morning, alongside Victorian premier Ben Carroll.
At this stage its not clear what that motivation was.
But he addedL “It is clear that this wasn’t just an accident, this was an attempt to harm Helen Haines outside Wangaratta at her electorate office. Helen was getting things from the boot of her car when this incident occured.”
He said:
This is a tragic situation
Our thoughts are with her htis morning and today and we hope for a full recovery
First of all let’s set out what we know so far about what happened in Wangaratta yesterday.
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Helen Haines has been critically injured in an alleged attack involving a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, at about 3.35pm on Monday.
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The independent MP was taken to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital and underwent surgery overnight. She remains in a critical condition.
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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 (AFP), 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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Anthony Albanese, Angus Taylor, the Greens leader, David Shoebridge, the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, and politicians across the parliament have sent their thoughts and well wishes to Haines and her family.
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In a snap press conference on Monday evening, Albanese described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a “thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament”.
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Addressing the media in Wangaratta on Monday evening, acting supt Ashley Mason said police were still investigating whether the incident was targeted. He said there was no ongoing threat to the community and nothing to indicate the parties were known to each other.
More detail here:
Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the alleged attack on the independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines. She is in a critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by a car ourtside her electorate office in Wangaratta yesterday afternoon. A 43-year-old local man is in custody over the incident.
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