Australian MP Helen Haines is in stable condition at a Melbourne hospital after surgeons amputated both her legs following a car incident described by police as a targeted attack.
Haines was struck by a vehicle on Monday near her office in Wangaratta, a town located more than 200 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over political safety in Australia, where political violence remains uncommon but authorities have reported a rise in threats and abuse directed at elected representatives in recent years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Haines, an independent member of parliament known for advocating transparency and fighting corruption. He has also called on Australians to reduce political tensions and embrace respectful disagreement rather than polarisation.
Speaking outside the hospital on Wednesday, Haines’s husband, Phil, said surgeons had been forced to amputate both her legs after she spent several days in intensive care. He stressed that her survival and stable condition were the most important concerns for the family.
He described Haines as a compassionate and caring person and acknowledged that her recovery would be long and challenging, adding that the family believed she would face the difficult journey with determination.
The man accused of injuring Haines appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday. Brendan Nugent, 43, faces charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and harming a public official under federal law.
The charge of harming a public official carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
