Australian lawmaker critically injured in apparent deliberate vehicle attack - The Globe and Mail

WorldAustralian lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical ‌condition on Monday after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, police and Prime ​Minister Anthony Albanese said.43-year-old driver arrested at the scene in Wangaratta in state of VictoriaThomson Reuters · Posted: Oct 19, 2026 6:16 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. MP Helen Haines speaks to the media at Parliament House on Feb. 9 in Canberra, Australia. (Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical ‌condition on Monday after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, police and Prime ​Minister Anthony Albanese said. Haines, 65, ‌was airlifted to hospital, Albanese said. "This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear. We don't know what the motivation is," Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A car hit an Australian federal independent lawmaker on Monday, critically injuring her in a potentially deliberate act, police said. The driver was arrested. Helen Haines, 65, was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV outside her electoral district office in the city of Wangaratta in Victoria state, a police statement said. Police did not identify the victim, in accordance with privacy policy, but Haines’ family confirmed her identity in a media statement. The 43-year-old driver was arrested at the scene by a passerby. He will be interviewed in relation to the incident, police said. “A knife was located by police and seized from inside the Toyota,” police said. “At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act,” police added. Haines, who was first elected to the Parliament in 2019, was taken to a hospital with critical injuries, police said. Authorities are concerned that there were more than 1,000 threats of violence against public figures in Australia in the past year and that being in public office has become more dangerous.