Australian lawmaker Helen Haines targeted in vehicle attack outside her office

Attack in Wangaratta

Haines was airlifted to hospital and remained in critical condition, police said. A passer-by arrested the 43-year-old suspect, who is from Tarrawingee, a town in northeastern Victoria. Police said a knife was found inside the Toyota 4x4 and there was no further threat to the public.

Family thanks responders

Haines’ family issued a statement on her Facebook page thanking bystanders, health workers and police for their assistance. They praised the swift help at the scene and the response from emergency services.

Albanese said the motive was not yet known. Later, he pointed to social media as a factor that had raised the temperature of politics, while describing political violence in Australia as extremely rare.

A career in public service

She spent three decades in rural healthcare and completed a doctoral thesis on childbirth at Sweden’s Uppsala University. In parliament, she has supported work on climate change and regional housing, and worked with the Labor government to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Representing regional Australia

Albanese told the ABC that Haines was passionate about her community and willing to speak up about its needs. He also said she played an important role in parliament.