Wangaratta has been left struggling to comprehend the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who police say was deliberately struck by a four-wheel-drive outside her electorate office in broad daylight.
By Tuesday morning, Chris Wernert had arrived on Murphy Street wearing an orange T-shirt bearing the words: “Wangaratta, this is not us.”
Mr Wernert supports One Nation and did not vote for Ms Haines, but said political differences had become irrelevant after the 65-year-old former nurse and midwife was allegedly run down outside her office.
“No matter what side of politics you’re on – I will be a One Nation voter – we’re talking about humans,” he said. “This shouldn’t be happening anywhere in Australia. I never in my life thought I’d see this happen.”
Police allege a 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, drove past as Ms Haines retrieved something from the back of her car, turned around and struck her, pinning her against the vehicle. He is then alleged to have reversed and hit her again.
The attack unfolded in front of witnesses near the electorate office, in a town of about 30,000 people 250 kilometres north-east of Melbourne where Ms Haines is a familiar presence in shops and cafes.
Cody Lepoidevin, 20, was working at an outdoor shop nearby when he heard screams. He said about 10 people, including members of Ms Haines’ staff, rushed into the street.
Mr Lepoidevin said he saw the vehicle reverse and drive towards the MP again, believing at first that the driver was trying to escape. He said it returned towards her “at least three times”.
“It was quite a horrific scene, not something you would expect to see on a regular working day, but we all decided to do what we could to help out,” he said. “There was a lot of pain for her … but she came across lovely … even in that moment.”
Mr Lepoidevin said the driver was mumbling and screaming, repeatedly mentioning Ms Haines by name. He helped prevent him from leaving.
Nearby barber Ricky Jefferies also ran into the street from his shop, Ricky Chops, which is next to the MP’s office. He said he ordered the driver out of the vehicle and got him on to the ground.
Mr Jefferies said the man had a knife in his pocket. “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,” he said.
He stayed with the man until police arrived, telling him: “Everything is alright, mate, you’ll be alright.”
“It was the right thing to do and to show him kindness and grace at a time that could have escalated from there,” Mr Jefferies said.
Helen Haines attack leaves town in shock
On Tuesday, Mr Jefferies returned to work and declined to dwell on his role in restraining the alleged attacker. Outside the electorate office, flowers and handwritten messages had begun gathering beneath a large photograph of Ms Haines.
Her staff, who witnessed the aftermath from inside the office, also returned to work. They fielded constituency requests while supporting one another through what a local independent candidate, Steve Manning, described as a traumatic experience.
“Not only are they traumatised – they’re actually clocked on and gone back to work this morning,” he said. “They love her and they love working for her.”
Ms Haines entered federal parliament at the age of 58, after working for decades in regional healthcare as a nurse and midwife. She succeeded Cathy McGowan as the independent member for Indi in 2019, becoming the first independent to replace another independent in the same federal seat.
She was re-elected in 2022 and 2025, and has campaigned for a national anti-corruption commission, greater scrutiny of political grants and improved healthcare in regional areas.
Her political style has been associated with consultation and evidence rather than personal confrontation. In an earlier interview, when asked to name her mortal enemies in parliament, she replied: “I’ve knocked heads with a few people on policy issues but I don’t have mortal enemies. Well, I don’t think I do.”
That comment has taken on a painful significance in Wangaratta. Police have not established a motive for the alleged attack, and it is not known whether Ms Haines was targeted because of her political position.
Mr Nugent was known to at least one other politician’s office. Tim McCurdy, a Nationals MP whose electorate office is a few hundred metres away, said the man had contacted his staff on September 4 and appeared “a little spaced out”.
Mr McCurdy described Ms Haines as “well liked, very popular throughout the community and very inoffensive”. He added: “She had no enemies.”
Wangaratta mayor Irene Grant said the incident had raised questions about violence and the gaps in mental health services in regional Victoria, an issue Ms Haines has long highlighted. She cautioned against reducing the attack to a simple explanation.
“You think, well, the world’s changed for us, and there’s so many ways,” Ms Grant said. “This is going to have a huge impact, not only on our community, but on the region, and Australia.”
By lunchtime, residents had gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral for a service. Bishop Clarence Bester spoke of Ms Haines as a woman of “courage, grace, and deep integrity” and urged the congregation not to give in to fear or division.
For half an hour, neighbours, friends and strangers sat together, embraced and lit candles. In a town shaken by the alleged attack, the actions of those who ran towards the danger, restrained the driver and returned to work offered a reminder of the community’s response.
