MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Doctors amputated Australia’s two federal lawmakers Helene Haines She remains in critical condition after being hit multiple times by a car in an apparent act of political violence, her husband said Wednesday.
The 65-year-old independent politician is being treated at a Melbourne hospital where she was taken by helicopter.
Phil Haines, her husband, made the family’s first public comments on her condition since she was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV in her home town of Wangaratta on Monday, speaking hours after a man accused of running her over made his first court appearance.
Doctors have amputated both legs of Australian federal MP Helen Haines, who remains in critical condition after being repeatedly hit by a car in an apparent act of political violence, her husband said on Wednesday.
Husband says Haines lost both legs
Haines’ husband said her left leg was amputated Monday and her right leg was amputated Wednesday after doctors gave up hope of saving her.
“The good news in all of this is that Helen is alive and stable. That’s the most important thing for our family,” the husband told reporters in Melbourne.
“We are grateful and thankful that at this point his heart and mind are in good shape,” he said.
He added that their 40th wedding anniversary will be in November.
Man accused of assault makes first court appearance
Earlier on Wednesday, Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old man from nearby Tarrawingee, appeared in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court charged with causing serious injury with intent, dangerous driving causing serious injury and injuring a federal public servant.
Nugent did not apply for bail or enter a guilty plea. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February. Police have not yet determined a motive.
Nugent’s lawyer, Chirag Patel, told magistrate Allison Vaughan that his client suffered from potential mental health problems but that no mental health problems had ever been diagnosed.
Patel said Nugent suffered from a neurological condition, idiopathic transverse myelitis and a concussion. The attorney did not explain how Nugent was concussed.
This rare disease damages the protective myelin sheath of the spinal cord and disrupts nerve signals between the brain and body. This leads to rapid muscle weakness, sensory loss, pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction, according to the Cleveland Clinic Medical Center.
Witnesses say the driver hit his victim, pinning him against his own car before reversing and hitting him a second time.
Australia worries about balancing security and accessibility for politicians
The fate of the well-regarded lawmaker shocked Australians because political violence is rare in the country and politicians are very accessible to the public. Most legislators are not accompanied by security services and conduct their work and personal lives alone.
Senior opposition lawmaker James Paterson on Wednesday called for a review of lawmakers’ personal security in response to the alleged crime.
“The reality is that Australian parliamentarians, by global standards, are uniquely accessible to the public and that’s a good thing,” Paterson told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“But we cannot find ourselves in a situation where shocking attacks like this take place, because it would fundamentally change our democracy forever if being a member of Parliament becomes a serious risk to your life,” Paterson added.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged lawmakers to continue open dialogue with the public despite deepening animosity within the community.
“We want to make sure people feel as comfortable as possible knowing that everything is being done to maximize safety,” Albanese told News24.
“I think parliamentarians on all sides are committed to ensuring that we can continue to engage as we must in our great democracy,” Albanese added. “This interaction is really important in our democracy.”
Security agencies brief lawmakers on personal safety
Lawmakers began online meetings with Australia’s security agencies on Wednesday to discuss their security. Such briefings are commonplace.
Albanese described the briefings as an “opportunity for people who are feeling anxious to be able to ask questions” of security agencies.
The Australian Federal Police only provide personal security to lawmakers deemed to pose a higher risk, usually because they have attracted the attention of dangerous people. Prime ministers always have personal protection and immigration ministers often do because they make people angry over visa decisions.
Paterson said it would not be practical to provide police protection to all 226 federal lawmakers. But he suggested beefing up security at electorate offices, like the one in Haines where she was struck. Paterson said lawmakers were “more identifiable” in their offices. Coming and going could be a “risky moment”.
Federal Police Commissioner Kissy Barrett told reporters that providing police protection for all parliamentarians would require “an incredible amount of resources”.
Police received 1,067 reports of threats, harassment, nuisance and offensive communications against senior officials, including federal lawmakers and their office staff, in the last fiscal year, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Barrett said nearly one suspect per week is charged with such threats.
Australia has not recorded the political violence seen in other countries
Elsewhere around the world, authorities have warned of growing threats against lawmakers. The United States saw an increase political violence on the last decade.
This includes the Hammer Assault 2022 on the husband of Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House; THE Assassination attempt in 2024 on Donald Trump during his presidential campaign, as well as another on the president during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April; and the 2025 assassinations of a Democrat Minnesota state legislator and her husband, and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
In Britain, assassinations of political leaders have also led to increased security. Labor lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, while conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State militant group.
In July, former British politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe was found beaten to death. with a hammer at her home. A man has been charged with murder and terrorism-related offences.
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Graham-McLay reported from Wellington, New Zealand.
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