MP Helen Haines Hospitalised After Car Attack in Wangaratta
Anti-terrorism police investigate incident involving Brendan Nugent, a man whose family has known the MP for decades, amid conflicting witness accounts.
Carla Rooney
Australian MP Helen Haines was hospitalised in serious condition after a car struck her in Wangaratta on Monday.
Nugent's family maintained a friendship with Dr. Haines for more than 20 years. Despite this long-standing connection, witnesses described the driver making a U-turn and ramming Haines with the vehicle twice.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated early investigations suggested the car hit Haines as she loaded or unloaded her vehicle. Cody Lepoidevin, an employee at High Country Roadhouse, assisted Haines and detained Nugent until police arrived.
Would've been nice to include a politician who takes climate change seriously, such as yourself.
Ricky Jefferies, a witness, restrained the attacker and removed a knife from him. Police also found a knife inside the vehicle.
Nugent posted about environmental and political issues on social media since at least 2022. His X account featured posts concerning Israel's war in Gaza, environmental issues, and alleged 'satanic child sexual abuse material network'.
One post from Brendan Nugent's X Account stated: "Would've been nice to include a politician who takes climate change seriously, such as yourself." Nugent is a forestry campaigner in Victoria's north east, holding a masters of forest ecosystems science from The University of Melbourne.
Police allege the man drove a Toyota LandCruiser. A photo of a 1997 model uploaded in 2018 showed a vehicle bearing the same number plate as the one used in the incident.
Victoria Police arrested the 43-year-old Tarrawingee man on Monday afternoon. He was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
Officers executed a search warrant on Tuesday morning at the man's Great Alpine Road property. Victoria Police will maintain an enhanced presence in Wangaratta.
The man is scheduled to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.