Today’s attack on MP Helen Haines

[Starlia]

It is being reported she was struck intentionally outside her office and has been critically injured.
ABC reporting here

I hope it’s not an act of political violence but I fear that it might be.

I saw this in the Guardian @Starlia. I'm not Australian and I don't know anything about her, but I was shocked to see it. A woman going about her lawful business in the service of the country. So sorry.

I was just reading about this. Certainly looks deliberate as the car apparently drove past and then turned around.

Awful.

When all the idiots in the world were saying how great it was that someone tried to shoot Trump they did not understand that other idiots were going to copy trying to murder a politician

I hope she will be ok. Dreadful news.

Awful news. She is a terrific politician and a lovely woman. (DH knows her slightly).

Updates from the ABC

The attacker has been named and apparently rammed Helen Haines twice before a bystander intervened.

This morning Haines has lost one of her legs which is just awful news.

I really worry about the rise in political violence and hateful speech we are seeing in this country. Other MPs report that they regularly receive threats of violence, sexual assault and death.

What has gone wrong?

Australia, but a lot like most of the world has a real problem with violence against women and girls. How many have been killed this year 50+ ?

The rhetoric against female politicians has been awful for ages, suggesting they get tied up in bags and thrown in the river to drown

With Jo Cox and Ann Widdecombe in the UK maybe the politicians will pay attention. But I feel that they’ll just make it about themselves, much like Nigel Ferrari becomes about the male politicians.

I feel for Helen, her family and community. I just want to remember that this is happening to a lot of people in the process of their daily Work lives, and seemingly is not worthy of note.

I’m also going to hold in my heart those paramedics, nurses etc that face abuse and assault on a daily basis.

Something needs to change.

Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry for her, and so angry for her.

This is awful. Across the world, so much violence.

It's appalling and so sad. At least they caught the perpetrator (and yes I bet he's One Neuron).

So awful. Just heard this on the radio. And the motive of the perpetrator.

A friend of the family, apparently.

His parents are friends with Helen Haines allegedly. His online activity is being looked at. Some of that was covered on R4.

I’ve been so shocked by this. Poor woman.

I can’t fathom why anyone would do this to anyone.

Sounds like he was increasingly unstable and should have been locked up already. I really hope she pulls through, its so horrific.

Last month Nugent was involved in a road rage incident near Wangaratta, where he allegedly threatened a woman with a hammer. The matter was reported to police, but no charges have been laid with the matter still under investigation, a police source said.

www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/suspect-in-helen-haines-attack-named-20261020-p616zq.html

These far left lunatics keep attacking people with hammers don't they?
theconversation.com/haines-loses-leg-alleged-attacker-posted-about-environment-and-gaza-294364

Doesn't sound very One Nation @toomanycatsforsanity 🤔

No, it doesn't now. Earlier in the day it seemed to but now it definitely doesn't.

It’s cooker heartland apparently. It’s the area where Dezi Freeman shot and killed two police officers. Sounds like he’s a combo of cooker, environmentalist and alcoholic. He’s known for drinking heavily. I heard that police had to wait for over 12 hours for him to sober up before they could question him. His neighbours have an AVO against him and were too scared to talk to the media.

Where did you get that from? The very first information that came out at the same time the attacker was identified and named was his involvement in anti-logging activism.

I’m not sure any actual information came out early on did it? The first stuff that was said was a mish-mash of supposition seized on by those who want more division. Whole range of different causes were thrown out there, to make sure everyone got angry and felt their ‘side’ was in the right.

Pretty standard for this sort of thing. I’m surprised so many still fall for it.

Known to police, severe mental health issues, less likely to be linked to politics. Still , poor woman, must have been so scary.

Poor woman has had the other leg amputated now. I hope they put this man away for the rest of his life.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/21/helen-haines-loses-both-legs-after-mondays-alleged-attack-ntwnfb

I listened to her husband speak this afternoon. Sounds like a close and loving family who have been totally devastated by this awful attack.
I feel so sad for Helen and her family.

A man attacking a woman. Again.

Utter utter shite.

And fuck his mental health.