Australian MP hit by a car has both legs amputated

The Australian MP hit by a car has had both of her legs amputated, her husband has said.

Helen Haines, 65, was struck in the incident on Monday, which took place in Wangaratta, some three hours northeast of Melbourne.

Her husband said in a press conference on Wednesday morning that she was "alive and stable" after she was struck by the vehicle twice.

Phil Haines said: "The good news in all this is Helen is ‌alive and she's stable. That is the most important thing for our family."

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The man accused of attacking her has appeared in court.

Brendan Nugent, 43, a resident of Tarrawingee, within Haines' electorate, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official.

He was additionally charged with cannabis cultivation and possession.

Haines, an independent lawmaker who has championed causes including climate change and regional housing, remains in a critical condition.

During the suspect's brief court appearance on Wednesday, the accused's lawyer said his client suffers from a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis and was also being treated for concussion, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

He added his client had some mental health concerns and it was his first time in custody.

There was no application for bail and the case was deferred until 4 February, with anti-terrorism police among the agencies investigating the incident.

Australian Police received no warning of any imminent danger from the alleged attacker, Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters.

She said: "What I can say ⁠is we didn't have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened ​on Monday afternoon."

Victoria Police Chief Mike Bush added: "Motivation is one of these things that we ​absolutely need to explore.

"His motivation for this, what we allege is a deliberate attack, is very much a ⁠centrepiece of the investigation."

Haines had worked in nursing, midwifery and academia before being elected to parliament in 2019 for the rural seat of Indi, which ⁠she retained in both 2022 and 2025.

(c) Sky News 2026: Australian MP hit by a car has both legs amputated