Helen Haines attack: Suspect Brendan Nugent charged as police allege incident was targeted

That’s a wrap on Tuesday’s live coverage of the Helen Haines attack.

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Victoria Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent after he allegedly hit MP Helen Haines with his car on Monday.

Mr Nugent faces three separate charges; dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

Police have confirmed they are alleging the attack was targeted and deliberate.

Mr Nugent remains in police custody and will appear in Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

The family of suspect Brendan Nugent have released a statement calling Helen Haines “our friend”.

The 43-year-old’s father Rod Nugent and Rod’s partner Christine Cunningham have spoken out about the horrific incident on Monday evening.

“Helen Haines is a deeply respected, valued and much loved member of our local community,” the statement says.

“Helen has been our friend for more than 20 years and what happened to her yesterday is devastating and unfathomable.

“All of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends.

“We would like to sincerely thank members of the local community and police who came to Helen’s aid yesterday after the shocking and horrific crime. We will be assisting Victoria Police in any way we can.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has backtracked her defence of a controversial satire cartoon of Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie in the wake of the alleged attack on Helen Haines.

The minor party leader has told News24 she was “awfully shocked” by the incident and apologised for the depiction of Senator Lambie’s health condition in the latest episode of One Nation’s “Please explain” cartoon.

Senator Lambie has been outspoken about her vaginal and bladder prolapse to raise awareness and in the episode it depicted her saying: “I can’t laugh because of my prolapsed vagina”.

Senator Hanson said she has ordered the video be changed and vowed to review future episodes.

“The video went up without my actually seeing it, and I was not aware of the content of the video,” Senator Hanson told News24.

“I have spoken to the creator of that video. I’ve asked him to actually change it

“I respect people’s views and opinions out there, and it, and it wasn’t as tastefully done as it could have been.

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has used the alleged attack on Helen Haines to hit out at Anthony Albanese over a Labor “dirt sheet” distributed on her just weeks before the incident.

The document referenced by both The Australian and Daily Mail on Tuesday came after the Independent MP raised questions about “pork barrelling” in the Prime Minister’s seat following a $6m grant for a golf club.

The backgrounding to the media came after the democracy-focused Centre for Public Integrity examined more than $500 million of government community grants, finding a stark disparity in funding allocation.

Mr Albanese had been an honorary member of Marrickville Golf Club which received it.

Labor had labelled her criticism as “nonsense and hypocrisy”, according to The Australian, and questioned what due diligence Dr Haines conducted before making her own promises.

Dr Haines has last month responded to the Labor attacks to defend her right to scruinise the government.

“The issue isn’t whether MPs advocate for their communities. Of course we do. What I’m asking for is that all communities get a fair go,” she’d declared.

Senator Hanson referenced the dirt sheet during an interview with News24 on Tuesday and told Mr Albanese to take his own advice to turn the temperature down in political debate.

“It was just a few weeks ago he’s putting out a dirt sheet on Helen Haines because she questioned about the money going to the Marrickville golf course,” she told News24.

“For him to stand up today and say how she’s a wonderful person, well PM, you have a look at it.

“You say tone it down. Well then, I’ll tell the PM, you tone it down. Get rid of your dirt files.”

Warringah MP Zali Steggall has criticised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s decision to wear a burqa in parliament as “clickbait” and called for Australian politicians to lower the temperature of debates.

The Community Strong MP said hit out at Senator Hanson during an emotional interview on News24 in the wake of an alleged attack on her close colleague and friend Helen Haines.

Ms Steggall’s interview came just moments after Senator Hanson defended her party’s record on respectful parliamentarian debate.

“I’m just quite shocked. Absolutely we need to tone it down in terms of having respectful debate,” she said.

“And not just seeking the clickbait moments on social media or posturing in our Parliament wearing a burqa.

“I find it so deeply offensive to have to follow that presentation by Pauline Hanson who sells and pushes hate and division non-stop.

“Helen is the complete opposite, she seeks understanding, she seeks facts, she is kind, she is witty.

“We are devastated about what has happened.”

The town of Wangaratta have come together to host a vigil for Helen Haines.

At the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, attendees could be seen embracing each other as more details about the MP’s condition are revealed after Monday afternoon’s attack.

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The 65-year-old suffered devastating injuries after being pinned between two vehicles, with AAP reporting she has already lost one leg.

According to the ABC, medical teams are now working to save her other leg.

Dr Haines was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne following the incident and underwent surgery overnight.

A 43-year-old man from the nearby town of Tarrawingee was arrested at the scene and could be charged with causing harm to a commonwealth public official, according to the Australian Federal Police.

If found guilty, he could face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.

Floral tributes have been laid outside Independent MP Helen Haines’ electorate office in Wangaratta and the devastated community has held a prayer vigil for her recovery.

The Federal member for the regional Victorian seat of Indi was critically injured in a suspected targeted attack by 43-year-old driver Brendan Nugent on Monday afternoon while she was loading the back of her car.

Among the tributes laid include messages of support, a card from a child and a painting of a dandelion.

Wangaratta locals also held a lunchtime prayer vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral to “offer prayers for the full recovery of Dr Helen Haines”.

Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta’s Clarence Bester was expected to lead the prayers.

In a social media post, the Diocese described it as “an opportunity for the community to come together to reflect, to have silence, and to pray for Helen, her family, and her close friends”.

“Our time together is an important act of solidarity with Helen and a sign of peace and goodwill for all people.”

Teal MPs have expressed their support for fellow independent MP Helen Haines who is fighting for life after she was allegedly rammed twice by a man in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon.

Independent MPs Monique Ryan and Sophie Scamps described her commitment to her Indi community and how respected across the Federal Parliament.

“She’s incredibly respectful of colleagues, people across the spectrum in parliament love her and respect her. Helen is the best of us,” Ryan told ABC RN on Tuesday.

“She’s a person of the utmost personal integrity.”

Independent MP David Pocock said the attack marked a “new reality” for political discourse in Australia.

“As elected representatives, as Australians, we have to do more to remind ourselves how much we have in common and how unacceptable this is here in this country,” Senator Pocock told News24.

“And to build something much better than what we’ve seen over the last day.”

Allegra Spender, who has since formed the Community Strong political party with Zali Steggall, described Dr Haines as a trailblazer of independent MP after her election win in 2019.

The member for Wentworth told News24 that Australia had “seen something change” in the environment as threats rose significantly post-COVID.

“Threats reported to the AFP on politicians have risen significantly. I think rising from around 280 in sort of 2020, to now over 1000,” she said.

“Politicians need to do better because the behaviour, the standards, the way that we speak to each other, including particularly in the chamber… is not acceptable and does not help.”

Ms Steggall said she was “shocked and devastated” by the alleged attack.

“I have worked with Helen since 2019 and sit alongside her in Parliament,” she said.

“She is a wonderful, caring, smart and wise friend and amazing representative for her community. I am thinking of her and her wonderful family.”