Story perspectives

Police charge driver after ramming of MP Helen Haines

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 7:57 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Brendan Nugent Charged

Independent MP Helen Haines lost legs after a vehicle hit her outside her Wangaratta office.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn said Haines is stable at Alfred Hospital.
Police charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with dangerous driving, serious injury and harming a Commonwealth official.
Nugent appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates Court and will remain in custody until a 4 February 2027 hearing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked bystander Ricky Jefferies for detaining Nugent, calling the act deliberate.

Summary

Tony Burke Reports

A joint counter-terrorism taskforce was deployed to investigate the ramming as a possible extremist act.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reported 1,067 harassment complaints against officials in 2025-26, up from 951 the previous year.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor warned that political violence must not become normalized in Australian public life.
ASIO chief Mike Burgess said the rise in politically-motivated threats reflects a broader climate of online hostility.

History

Historical Context

After the 16-hour Lindt Café siege in Martin Place on 15–16 December 2014, which left two hostages dead and triggered a joint federal-state review led by Michael Thawley, Australia created a Joint Counter-Terrorism Group. The 2025-26 vehicle attack on MP Helen Haines revived those reforms, prompting Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to expand the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

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Brendan Nugent Charged

Independent MP Helen Haines lost legs after a vehicle hit her outside her Wangaratta office.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn said Haines is stable at Alfred Hospital.
Police charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with dangerous driving, serious injury and harming a Commonwealth official.
Nugent appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates Court and will remain in custody until a 4 February 2027 hearing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked bystander Ricky Jefferies for detaining Nugent, calling the act deliberate.

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