A man accused of deliberately driving into Australian MP Helen Haines has been identified as Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old activist whose social media accounts have featured anti-Israel and environmental posts.
Ms Haines, a centrist independent, was struck outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday afternoon. She suffered severe lower-body injuries, reportedly lost one leg and remained in a critical condition as surgeons worked to save the other.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said she had undergone emergency surgery in Melbourne overnight and expressed his thoughts for her family, staff, friends and constituents.
Australian MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition
Witnesses said a white Toyota Land Cruiser passed Ms Haines as she collected items from the boot of her car before making a U-turn and hitting her twice.
Ricky Jefferies, a barber working in a nearby shop, intervened and pulled the driver from the vehicle while Ms Haines was reportedly trapped underneath it. He held the man on the ground until police arrived minutes later.
Mr Jefferies said he did not regard himself as a hero and had acted after realising there was an opportunity to intervene.
“I basically asked him to jump out of the car and got him out of the car. I had him sit on the ground and police got there within minutes,” he said.
He is understood to have made a citizen’s arrest. A pocketknife was allegedly found when the driver’s pockets were emptied, and Mr Jefferies kicked it away from him.
Nugent remains in police custody after spending the night in a cell. He is due to undergo a mental health assessment before detectives formally interview him.
Police have confirmed that the vehicle involved was not reported stolen. A photograph of a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser posted in 2018 on an X account attributed to Nugent appears to show the same number plate as the vehicle allegedly used in the attack.
Accounts linked to Nugent have posted about the war in Gaza and environmental issues, including logging. Recent posts also referred to a conspiracy involving child sexual abuse material.
The account had interacted with Ms Haines on X, with the last exchange understood to have been six years ago. One post appeared to praise her position on climate change.
Ms Haines has called for stronger action on climate change, including a target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030. She has also urged Australia to sanction Israel, increase pressure on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and support an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
However, police said it was too early to determine Nugent’s political views or establish a motive for the alleged attack.
“The focus of the investigation will be to determine, why and how this occurred and whether it was an intentional or deliberate act,” Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said.
Counter-terrorism authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. Police said Nugent was known to them but had not recently been on the radar of law enforcement agencies.
Mr Albanese said the incident appeared to have been deliberate and was not an accident. He also said he was unaware of any threats against Ms Haines before the attack.
“This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear,” the prime minister told ABC.
He praised Mr Jefferies for running towards the danger, saying the barber’s actions could have prevented further harm.
“That person is a hero today,” Mr Albanese said.
Flowers and handwritten messages have been left outside Ms Haines’s office by local residents and schoolchildren. The MP had attended a school event earlier on Monday, where she presented an Australian flag.
Ms Haines, who was elected in 2019, is known for her work on political integrity and was involved in establishing Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission. She previously worked as a midwife and researcher and has campaigned on healthcare and the needs of regional communities.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor described the incident as a shocking day for Australia and said political violence must never become part of public life.
