Following a deliberate vehicular assault outside her Wangaratta office, in Australia, federal parliamentarian Helen Haines underwent a double amputation, The Australian, reported Wednesday.
"Helen's left leg was amputated on Monday. We had been hoping that her right leg would be saved, but… the surgeons had to also remove her right leg," Phil Haines stated, adding, "but the good news in all this is Helen is alive and she's stable." Governor-General Sam Mostyn said, "Australia is still reeling with the shock and distress of this terrible attack," noting, "I know that here in Victoria, in particular, people are simply dumbfounded and finding it very hard to fathom the scale of this tragedy."
Phil Haines husband discouraged floral gifts being sent to his wife, saying, "She loves flowers, but it's a bit difficult to look after many bunches of flowers," and suggesting, "We will ask people if they would like to support Helen financially to make a donation to Save the Children Fund." Amid rising parliamentary threats, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett highlighted "increasing political polarization and anti-government sentiment, conspiracy-driven and grievance-based behaviors," driven by "lone actors motivated by a convergence of personal grievance, mental health vulnerabilities, and ideological concerns."
After regaining consciousness, Haines reportedly said, "thank you, you lovely people."
Her husband's family pledged, "we will be assisting Victoria Police in any way we can," thanking responders for coming to her aid after "the shocking and horrific crime." They described Helen as "a deeply respected, valued and much loved member of our local community," adding, "Helen has been our friend for more than 20 years and what happened to her yesterday is devastating and unfathomable." They concluded, "all of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends."
The suspect, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, appeared in court Wednesday facing charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and harming a Commonwealth public official. Nugent, is an environmental activist who has repeatedly criticized Israel in online posts. Authorities investigating the suspect's Tarrawingee compound reviewed online posts in which he cited "huge gaps" in disability systems, enduring "chronic pain" while remaining "broke." His social biography read, "Plant Person … The world should be run by dogs and children." In 2019, he praised Haines for taking climate change seriously while criticizing "LNP-funded anti-independent propaganda" locally.
Nugent recently shared claims of "sexual abuse, including rape" occurring "during processing and detention by Israeli forces." He also posted, "The Whistleblower: Did Epstein's Network Reemerge In Charlie Kirk's World?" Discussing welfare struggles, he wrote, "You really have no idea, do you," explaining, "I have a masters degree, H1 average, still can get the basic assistance I need to work. Tried many times. Disability pension not enough to manage it so I'm constantly broke spending on health, NDIS is unavailable. We are left to sit in pain 24/7."
Regarding political labels, he argued, "Hey @GuardianAus and all media, please stop calling these people 'conservative'," maintaining, "There is no position more radical than the one they are proposing."
Ricky Jeffries, a barber, who detained the driver, rejected praise, telling the ABC, "I don't think I'm a hero. I think that I just was a person who had an opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish sort of way."
Jeffries found a knife, explaining, "He did have a knife. He didn't pull it out. I just wasn't comfortable with his movements, and so I basically just took it out of his pocket and threw it away."
The suspect appeared "delirious" and kept "mumbling slurs" after the crash. A witness told The Sydney Morning Herald, "We thought he was trying to run away, but he then reversed and drove back into her another three times before trying to flee," adding, "We did what we could. He was just more or less mumbling slurs and more worried about his personal belongings in his car than anyone else or the trouble he's caused."
Summarizing the investigation, Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason stated, "They are ascertaining exactly what occurred, how and why."
