Helen Haines attack live updates: Indi MP undergoes surgery, remains in critical condition after attack outside Wangaratta office; 43-year-old Tarrawingee man in custody

Emily KaineUpdated October 20, 2026 — 7:37am,first published 6:16amKey PostsWhat you need to know about the attack outside Haines’ officeBy Emily KaineIndi MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, just after 3.30pm yesterday.Haines was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her office in Murphy Street yesterday. The 65-year-old MP suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Melbourne for treatment where she remains in a critical condition. Witnesses told Nine and the ABC they saw Haines pinned between two vehicles just outside her office as she was near her own car.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last night during a press conference that it was an intentional attack and was being investigated in a multi-agency effort, but that it was too early to determine the motivation of the attack.A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, about 12 kilometres east from Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody as police and counter-terrorism teams investigate his background. Police found a knife in the man’s car.Fellow parliamentarians – including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Greens leader David Shoebridge and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll – expressed their horror and sadness at the attack last night, and said political violence should not be accepted as a normal part of public life in Australia.We will continue to bring you live updates on this unfolding story here on our rolling blog.The scene of the attack at Wangaratta.ABCLatest Posts7.37amAlbanese personally ‘shaken’ by attack on HainesBy Emily KainePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he is personally “shaken” by the attack on Helen Haines, and that it is particularly jarring because he knows how much the MP cares about the people who live in the town where it unfolded.“The fact that it is someone like Helen Haines in that beautiful regional town of Wangaratta, I’ve been with Helen in Wangaratta there, and I know what a great town it is, and I know how proud she is to represent it, and the fact that an incident like this can occur there is something that does shake all of us, I think, and I think it will have an impact on all Australians, not just members of Parliament,” Albanese told ABC’s News Breakfast.“I think it is a call to, you know, think of today, of course, our thoughts overwhelmingly just with Helen Haines. It’s about Helen today and her recovery and our wishes for a full recovery. The debate about political discourse and the way we conduct ourselves will, of course, be ongoing.”Flowers left outside Haines’ Wangaratta electorate office this morning. Jason South Wangaratta resident Chris Wernert outside the MP’s office today. Jason South 7.29amWangaratta mayor unsurprised of heroic actions by barberBy James CostaWangaratta Mayor Irene Grant says the community is still comprehending the “terrible incident” that occurred last night.Grant said independent MP Helen Haines was very well liked in the community, very approachable and hardworking.“Well, so far the conversations that I’ve had with members of the community are around disbelief,” Grant said. “We can’t believe that this has happened.”Grant said she didn’t know much about the heroic barber Ricky Jefferies, who rushed to assist Haines but said she was “unsurprised”.7.20am‘Everyone is reeling’: Deputy Liberal leaderBy Emily KaineA visibly emotional Jane Hume says all her colleagues are “reeling” after yesterday afternoon’s attack and that no one should be subjected to political violence.“I’ve been speaking to a number of colleagues in the last 12 hours or so, and everybody is reeling from this. Helen Haines is such a valued colleague. She’s an extraordinary member of the parliament. She’s a great representative of her community,” the deputy Liberal leader told News24.Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume.Dominic Lorrimer“On behalf of the Coalition and myself personally, that our thoughts and prayers are with her today, with her family, with her team in particular. She’s fighting for her life right now, and that’s what matters today.”Hume said holding public office should not be a job that comes with so much risk, but that her colleagues were all “acutely aware” of the reality that political violence is on the rise.7.13amWitnesses told police driver U-turned to hit Haines: PM By Emily KaineAlbanese said it was clear the driver of the LandCruiser intended to harm the member for Indi, as witness reports suggest the four-wheel-drive made a sharp U-turn before it struck her.“Helen Haines was getting something out of the boot of her car when the reports from eyewitnesses are that the car that struck Helen Haines did a U-turn,” Albanese told News24.“Therefore that’s why this wasn’t, you know, something with a car just going off the road. This is something that is very clear was aimed at causing harm to Helen Haines.”7.05amAlbanese praises hero who rushed to Haines’ aidBy Emily KainePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Ricky Jefferies, the hero bystander who rushed to help Helen Haines after the attack.Jefferies, a barber and father of three, raced to the independent MP’s side after he saw her struck by the vehicle yesterday afternoon.Flowers rest out the front of Ricky Jefferies’ barbershop in Wangaratta on Tuesday morning.James Costa“It’s got to be said here that at this dark and terrible time, an element of light is the fact that a good Samaritan, someone rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta … and that person is a hero today,” Albanese told Channel Nine’s Today show this morning.“And I just think that he deserves enormous praise, and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even more further infliction of damage, which was aimed at Helen.”6.49amAlbanese says motivation of attack is still unclear By Emily KainePrime Minister Anthony Albanese said he expects an update on the ongoing investigation into the attack on independent MP Helen Haines when he is briefed by the AFP, ASIO and counter-terrorism police later today, but says the motivation of the attacker still remains unclear this morning.“I’ll be briefed later this morning, as well, with Premier Ben Carroll, and will allow the police to do their investigation. It’s important here that people allow that process to take place, that we deal with facts rather than speculation,” he told Channel Seven’s Sunrise.“The motivation is unclear … But it is clear this wasn’t just an accident. This was an attempt to harm Helen Haines in Wangaratta outside of her electorate office. Helen was getting things from the boot of her car when this incident occurred.”Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speak to the media on Monday night.Ben Grubb6.42amHaines remains in a critical condition, underwent surgery overnight: PMBy Emily KaineHelen Haines remains in a critical condition this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said, after she underwent surgery overnight.“Helen remains in hospital in a critical condition. I spoke with her husband, Phil, last night, and she underwent surgery last night,” Albanese told Channel Seven’s Sunrise.“All of Australians’ thoughts are with the family, with her many friends, with her community. Helen Haines is someone of integrity. She’s greatly admired right across the political spectrum. She’s someone who’s characterised by her kindness, her diligence, her intelligence.“Someone who is so proud of representing that beautiful part of Victoria. And this is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with her this morning and today, and we hope for a full recovery.”6.40am‘He risked his own life’: ‘Hero’ barber, father of three rushed to help HainesBy James CostaJessica Bear, the owner of the coffee shop two doors down from independent MP Helen Haines’ Wangaratta office says nearby barber and “hero” Ricky Jefferies rushed to help her after she was struck by a vehicle.“I’m not surprised,” Bear said. “He’s such a selfless person, and it definitely needs to be known about his bravery.“Ricky raced out when he thought that it was just a car accident, and he apprehended the man that was in the vehicle.Ricky Jefferies’ barber shop in Wangaratta. James Costa Jefferies has been described as a “selfless person” by another business owner, Jessica Bear.James Costa 6.27amWhat the PM said last nightBy Chris PainePrime Minister Anthony Albanese told a press conference about 7pm that Haines had been attacked, but the motive was not known.He did, however, point to the increasing number of violent threats levelled at politicians and public figures.“Anyone who looks at comments made and directed towards members of parliament and high office holders – there is increased, heightened risk,” he said.The PM then told the ABC’s 7.30 program: “This wasn’t an accident. This was a deliberate act, it would appear.”6.16amCrime scene cleared at Wangaratta By Emily KaineThe crime scene has been cleared outside Haines’ electorate office in Wangaratta.As of this morning, the street and path outside the office are empty except for a growing media presence.Here’s how it looks this morning.The crime scene has been cleared outside the MP’s office in Wangaratta. James Costa Helen Haines’ electorate office this morning. James Costa1 of 2