Helen Haines attack prompts cross-party talks on security for all MPs, not just targeted ones

On Monday, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, independent MP Helen Haines was struck twice by a four-wheel drive and pinned against another vehicle, according to witnesses. She is 65. By Tuesday she was in critical condition at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, having undergone surgery in which she lost a leg.

The alleged driver, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent of the neighbouring town of Tarrawingee, remains in police custody. NewsWire reviewed his account on the social media platform X, which Ms Haines herself followed. It found a litany of conspiratorial claims and severe criticism of Australia's response to the war in Gaza. In 2019, however, replying to one of her posts, he appeared to support her position on climate change.

Among her colleagues, the reaction went beyond shock. One parliamentarian told NewsWire the attack marks a "new and dangerous chapter in Australian politics." Several MPs across parliament said they had been worried for some time, and that Monday's events had, as one put it, "made it real." Another said they did not know what more could be done without "cocooning" MPs.

NewsWire understands the Albanese government and the Coalition are in talks aimed at strengthening security for elected officials across the board, rather than only through targeted measures for particular MPs. The talks were set to follow Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's briefing from the federal and Victoria police chiefs. MPs would not speculate on what measures might emerge, but said they welcomed the bipartisan approach.

Mr Albanese, speaking on morning television, said the country must ask what it wants Australia to be. He told ABC's News Breakfast he wants a country where members and senators can go to the local shops or sit on the hill at the footy and engage with people, because that is how they stay in touch. Security issues must still be dealt with, he said, noting a significant increase in the number of people charged with making threats. "We need to make sure that these things aren't normalised," he said.

Opposition figures struck a similar note. Angus Taylor said the freedom to walk the main streets of Australian towns is one of the great aspects of the country, and that friends abroad are amazed by it. He said it must be protected and cherished, and that political violence has no place in it. Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie called the attack a threat to Australia's democratic way of life, arguing the country has succeeded by resolving differences through debate, negotiation and compromise. He speaks with some experience: threats against him have surged since One Nation began targeting his seat, and Home Affairs has strengthened security at his home and electorate office.

Security chiefs also spoke. ASIO head Mike Burgess said the temperature of the security environment would be several degrees lower if people recommitted to conversing with civility and disagreeing with restraint. He said ASIO has seen direct correlations between inflamed language, inflamed tensions and acts of violence. Mr Burgess has warned of political tensions since raising the terror threat level to probable in 2024, when he said people were being radicalised faster and for more varied reasons.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett supplied the numbers. In 2024-25 the agency received 951 reports of harassing, nuisance, offensive and threatening behaviour against high office holders, federal parliamentarians, electorate offices and protected establishments. In 2025-26 the figure rose to 1067. Not every report reaches a criminal threshold, she said, but the AFP takes each seriously and urges parliamentarians and their staff to report incidents.

What to watch now is whether the government-Coalition talks produce a common package for all MPs, and how Ms Haines's condition develops while Mr Nugent remains in custody.