The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner has just released a statement about Helen Haines with an update on the 43-year-old man who was arrested shortly after the incident.

The AFP and Victoria Police are "working closely together to identify potential charges," says Krissy Barrett, with possible state and Commonwealth offences including causing harm to a public official which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

"At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are no known threats connected to this matter," she says.

The investigation is being led by Victoria Police's security investigation unit with support from the state's joint counter terrorism team, which is includes the AFP and ASIO, Australia's spy agency.

Federal police have regularly raised concerns about "growing threats against federal parliamentarians and high office holders," Barrett says, and last October, a special unit was established to probe politically-motivated violence and hate, with 41 people charged as a result.

Image source, Getty Images

The head of Australia's intelligence services, Mike Burgess, has issued a statement warning that increased levels of "grievance, intolerance and polarisation continue to create a permissive environment of violence" in Australia.

He says that the agency, ASIO, is concerned about the "use of violent rhetoric in public discourse".

"This incident occurred in an environment where politically motivated violence is more likely than previous years," he writes.

He also repeats an earlier warning, first made in 2024, that "As polarisation, frustration and perceived injustices grow, ASIO anticipates an increase in politically motivated violence – including terrorism – across all ideological spectrums.

"Attacks are likely to occur with little to no warning and will be difficult to detect.”

Image source, Getty Images

Zali Steggall, an independent MP in Sydney, says she's seen a "huge rise" in hate and aggression towards politicians, especially female ones.

"It's deeply concerning," she said in an interview with the BBC's The World Tonight programme.

"It is unfortunately a reality of the role, but it shouldn't deter us. I think the haters win if we let this kind of aggressive behaviour deter in particular women, from entering public life and serving in politics."

Steggall, who sits next to Helen Haines in federal parliament, described her colleague as an "amazing woman" who is "deeply loved and respected".

"A key part of her advocacy in politics has, in fact, been around integrity for a national anti-corruption commission, but also around treating each other with respect, recognising our differences."

Haines had recently become a grandmother, Steggall says, and "would often share with me the photos of her baby grandchildren".

Image source, Getty Images

The driver who allegedly hit Helen Haines with his car reversed so he could ram into her a second time, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said.

"What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time," Burke told national broadcaster ABC this morning.

As we reported earlier, a bystander ran towards the car, pulled the driver out and held him until police arrived.

"I think every Australian is grateful for those moments when a hero like this runs towards the most dangerous place," Burke said.

Image source, Getty

Simon Atkinson
Australia reporter

Helen Haines may not be a household name in Australia, but since Monday afternoon's incident it has become clear she is held in high esteem by her fellow politicians and her local community.

There is clearly a lot of love for the former nurse and midwife who came to politics fairly late after a career in health - including at the Wangaratta hospital where she was first taken after the attack - before being flown to more specialist care in Melbourne.

As an independent MP, Helen Haines isn't someone he always agreed with, Anthony Albanese has said but he talked warmly of her "integrity" as a "hard-working" politician who is a "beacon of light" for her rural electorate.

These are words coming up again and again, along with "respected". Perhaps her biggest win in politics has been leading the campaign for a national anti-corruption body.

Another independent MP, Allegra Spender, calls her a "wonderful woman" and "an extraordinary representative for her community".

"When I have an ethical dilemma, when I want to understand rural communities, when I want to hear commonsense, I speak to Helen."

Not much unites politicians in Australia at the moment, but across the divide nobody has had a bad word to say about Helen Haines - adding to the shock that is being felt here.

Image source, Getty Images

Threats to Australian politicians were rising before Haines incidentpublished at 00:17 BST 20 October

00:17 BST 20 October

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

As increasingly frequent acts of violence against politicians have shocked the globe in recent years, Australia has watched on with a contradictory feeling: that attacks like that could not happen here, and that it was only a matter of time until they did.

But MPs and public figures – backed by experts – have been warning of a volcano of threats against them as social cohesion cracks, polarisation intensifies and the tone of debate grows hotter.

According to government statistics, there were 1,067 reports of "harassing and threatening behaviour" against "high office holders" in the year to June: an increase on last year.

"We tend to bury our head in the sand and say, 'Not here', but this has been happening now for well over a decade," Josh Roose, a Deakin University Professor on violent extremism, tells the BBC.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese swiftly described Monday's incident as an apparent attack, and though he stressed no motive had been confirmed, he got emotional as he talked about the growing fear amongst MPs that they would end up targets.

Read the analysis here.

Let's bring you some more comments from Australia's prime minister who's been speaking this morning about yesterday's incident.

Talking to ABC News Breakfast, the leader was asked if he felt personally shaken by the incident.

"I do," he replies. "And the fact that an incident like this can occur - there is something that does shake all of us."

"It will have an impact on all Australians, not just members of parliament."

In an update about the suspect this morning, police say there was "no recent intelligence... that put him on our radar".

A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee - about 12km east of Wangaratta - was arrested shortly after the incident and remains in police custody.

Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason says police are treating the case as an "isolated incident".

"There's no intelligence that we're aware of to indicate that there is any further or ongoing threat to any individual or the broader community," he says.

He appealed to any witnesses who were near Murphy St, Wangaratta around 3.35pm on Monday and anyone who was driving nearby who may have dashcam footage to contact police.

Image source, Getty Images

A local barber in Wangaratta was among a group of by-standers who were first on the scene and detained the driver of the car that hit Helen Haines.

"It happened directly out the front of my shop," Ricky Jefferies tells national broadcaster ABC, recalling the moment he grabbed the man out of the white Toyota Landcruiser.

"When I pulled him out from the vehicle I searched him and found a knife in his pocket.

"I had him sit on the ground and police got there within minutes. A number of selfless locals intervened, they were all heroes."

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Jefferies, calling him a hero, during an interview on Channel Nine’s Today show this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been on local radio this morning, with more details on what he calls a "deliberate act" against Helen Haines, the independent MP for Indi.

He says the suspect drove past Haines and did a U-turn "in order to get back" to where she was before hitting her with the car.

"It's clear this was a deliberate act," he tells ABC News, adding it was not an "accident".

The motive for the attack is not clear, he says, and we shouldn't speculate at this point as police continue their investigations.

Image source, Getty Images

Australian MP Helen Haines has undergone surgery and remains in a critical condition this morning after she was hit by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the incident was a "deliberate act" but it's unclear what the motive was behind the attack.

Speaking this morning on local radio, Albanese says the suspect appears to have done a U-turn shortly before driving the car to hit Haines.

Police arrested a 43-year-old man who was driving the car and he remains in police custody.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.

Lucy Gilder
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

Australian MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car in Wangaratta, Victoria.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as an "attack", although police have said they're currently investigating whether it was "intentional" and any motive behind it.

A 43-year-old man, from nearby Tarrawingee, was detained at the scene by a passer-by before being taken into custody.

Images showed multiple emergency service vehicles nearby Haines' electorate office in Wangaratta.

Haines, 65, has been taken to a Melbourne hospital by helicopter, with her family thanking "the swift assistance of bystanders".

There has been widespread reaction, with tributes, prayers and resolve from political leaders.

Today's incident is a "deeply uncomfortable wake-up call" for Australia and its politicians, writes our correspondent.

• We're now ending our live coverage, but you can continue reading more about the story here

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we brought you reaction from Australia's political leaders. Here's how some other politicians have been responding:

Shock and anger

"I'm absolutely shocked and gutted by the horrific and senseless attack," says Senator Raff Ciccone, who chairs the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Also "shocked and saddened" is shadow treasurer Tim Wilson, while South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas describes the incident as "deeply distressing".

Personal tributes

"Helen is one of the kindest and most decent people I have the privilege to know and work with," says Education Minister Jason Clare.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers describes her as "wonderful and thoughtful", and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick says Haines "brings so much grace, compassion and decency to our Parliament".

Love and prayers

Independent MP Monique Ryan is among those "praying for Helen and her family", as are Senator Fatima Payman and federal Queensland MP Shayne Neumann.

"Sending my love and best wishes to Helen Haines for a full and speedy recovery," says shadow minister Michael McCormack.

Calls to action

"No one should have to fear for their safety while doing their job," says shadow minister Lachlan Hunter.

"We must stand together to defend our democracy and stand against political hatred and violence," adds shadow minister Bridget McKenzie. "Our country is better than this."

Image source, Getty Images

Security protection for politicians in Australia depends on their office and risk factors.

For instance, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) provides ongoing personal protection for senior figures such as the prime minister and governor-general.

For lower-ranked ministers, opposition members and backbench MPs, it depends on whether they're deemed to be at risk - individual assessments are carried out by the Protective Security Coordination Centre at the Department of Home Affairs.

Australian authorities play close attention to what happens in other Western democracies, with a parliamentary report on politically motivated violence earlier this year drawing attention to a number of international incidents.

They included the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in 2024; and the murders of British MPs Jo Cox (2016) and David Amess (2021), and US Minnesota representative Melissa Hortman (2025).

The murder of Amess prompted a review of Australian politician safety by the AFP.

This is a deeply uncomfortable wake-up call that Australia is vulnerable toopublished at 14:50 BST 19 October

14:50 BST 19 October

Katy Watson
Australia correspondent

While the police are saying there’s an ongoing investigation and it’s a critical incident, it feels like the politicians have been briefed and are being very clear that this is a deliberate attack.

The prime minister talked about the political temperature rising here in Australia - but that it’s not an isolated Australian thing.

He talked about there being no place for violence in a democracy. High levels of security around politicians is not something we see here.

And in terms of regional offices such as this one in Wangaratta, there wouldn't have been any security in that sense because this is a country that hasn’t historically faced threats towards its politicians.

Australia often feels isolated - insulated - from the problems faced in other parts of the world.

But like Bondi last year, which was a devastating attack causing deep sadness and shock - this too feels like a deeply uncomfortable wake-up call - that Australia is vulnerable too.

Image source, Reuters

Australian MP Helen Haines is a "deeply valued member of the Wangaratta community", according to local mayor Irene Grant.

Wangaratta is a city in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, with a population of about 30,000 people.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Rural City of Wangaratta, Grant says "our thoughts are with Helen Haines, her husband Phil and their family, Helen’s team and everyone affected by today’s incident".

Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne, Grant says: "My father had a surgery at the hospital when Helen was a nurse there and her kindness and the way she dealt with my dad, who was not an easy person to deal with, was fabulous."

"She's been someone who's been very much focused on the local community, and I'm significantly distressed about what I'm hearing," Grant adds.

Helen Haines has been taken by helicopter to a hospital in Melbourne, according to hospital officials.

The helicopter brought Haines from Wangaratta to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, with a spokesperson telling the BBC she remains in a critical condition.

The hospital adds there'll be no further updates on her condition for the rest of the day.

Image source, Google Maps

Image source, Getty Images

While it's too early to understand the motivation behind what's happened, the "deliberate act" comes against the backdrop of rising threats against politicians in Australia.

A parliamentary report warned last year that threats and physical attacks had increased "significantly over the past decade" - and as we reported earlier, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the past year.

A threat assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) - the country's equivalent of Britain's MI5 - warned last year that the risk of politically motivated violence was "already flashing red".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has received death threats and was reportedly the target of an alleged kidnapping threat in late 2025, appeared close to tears when he was asked whether he and his colleagues talk among themselves about the threats and risks they face.

"Yes," he replied, adding: "My concern at this point in time is for one, one of my colleagues."

Angus Thompson
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Although not necessarily a household name across Australia, in the political sphere Helen Haines is both well-known and well regarded.

So much is obvious from the outpouring of messages from politicians and party leaders across the breadth of the political spectrum. In an age of increasingly divisive politics, she is seen by many as a unifying force.

The independent MP has only been a federal parliamentarian for a relatively short time - having been elected in 2019. However, in that time she has become an influential advocate for integrity in politics.

Haines proposed legislation for a national anti-corruption watchdog in 2021, and has been credited for driving the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission under Labor in the previous parliamentary term.

She currently sits on the parliamentary committee responsible for its oversight.

Haines has often banded together with other key independents - including the so-called "teals" - who have formed a progressive, lower house bloc on issues that include climate action and gender equality.

Allegra Spender, another independent MP who has collaborated with Haines, has called Haines "the best of us".

Below are the first images we've received from the scene.

Police say the incident happened on Murphy Street - these images show part of the road cordoned off, with emergency services present.

As we've reported, Haines's family has released a statement saying the incident happened outside her office on the same street.

Image source, AuBC Via AP

Image source, AuBC Via AP

Image source, AuBC Via AP