WANGARATTA: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has lost a leg after being struck by a car in a deliberate attack, local media said on Tuesday.
Political violence is rare in Australia, but law enforcement has documented a steady rise in threats and abuse directed towards the nation’s elected officials in recent years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was a “test of our character” and led an outpouring of support for Haines, widely praised for her efforts to increase transparency in politics and crack down on corruption.
She was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in the town of Wangaratta, just over 200 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, at around 3:35pm on Monday. Witnesses told national broadcaster ABC they heard a bang and saw a woman pinned between two cars.
She was getting things from the trunk of her car when the attack happened, Albanese said. The driver did a U-turn to get back to her after passing, he added. “It’s clear this was a deliberate act,” he said. The 65-year-old was critically injured.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026
