Horror and disbelief after lawmaker attacked in rural Australia

Helen Haines, a respected lawmaker and former nurse, was critically injured in a deliberate attack by a vehicle in Wangaratta, Australia.

The 65-year-old was targeted by a 43-year-old man who rammed her with an SUV while she collected items from her car's trunk.

The attack shocked the local community, where Haines was admired for her advocacy for transparency, climate action, and Indigenous rights.

WANGARATTA (Australia), Oct 20 — A rural Australian town felt a mix of horror and disbelief today after a highly respected lawmaker was gravely injured in what looked to be a targeted attack.

Former nurse and midwife Helen Haines entered parliament in 2019, earning respect across the political divide for her efforts to stamp out corruption and bolster transparency.

The 65-year-old was struck by a two-tonne SUV in Wangaratta yesterday afternoon, suffering critical injuries in what authorities described as a “deliberate” act of violence.

Wangaratta Mayor Irene Grant said a sombre mood had settled over the town of about 30,000 people, a regional hub about 250 kilometres northeast of state capital Melbourne.

“Helen was well respected. She was diligent and hard working,” Grant told AFP.

“What has happened to Helen has caused the community to step back in utter disbelief. We can’t believe it, people are horrified by what has happened.”

Haines — who lives on a small cattle property outside Wangaratta — was getting something from the trunk of her car when her alleged attacker drove past in a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Authorities said the 43-year-old man turned the car around before veering at Haines and pinning her against her own vehicle.

The driver then allegedly reversed before ramming her again, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

Police have said little about the alleged attacker’s motive.

Locals, meanwhile, are struggling to comprehend why anyone would wish harm on the well-liked Haines.

Florist Jess Woodrow said Haines was a friendly face who would pop into the store when she was not tied up in the capital Canberra.

“We are absolutely devastated to hear what has happened. Helen was a beautiful person. She didn’t have a bad bone in her body,” Woodrow told AFP.

“It’s the last thing you would think would happen here.”

Haines entered parliament as an independent lawmaker in 2019, representing the sprawling seat of Indi.

She was a popular representative, holding the seat at the 2025 election with a hefty margin of more than 18,000 votes.

Haines was a vocal champion for greater climate action, better rural healthcare, and help for struggling small businesses.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria said Haines was a “staunch supporter” of Indigenous rights as well.

But it was her work to hold politicians to account that perhaps earned Haines the most respect both inside and outside parliament.

“Helen Haines is characterised by her kindness, her compassion, her diligence, her intelligence,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

“She’s someone who is such a strong advocate and is widely respected right across the political spectrum because the way that she advocates is very respectful.” — AFP

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受人尊敬的立法者、前护士海伦·海恩斯在澳大利亚旺加拉塔遭到车辆蓄意袭击，身受重伤。

一名 43 岁的男子驾驶一辆 SUV 撞向这名 65 岁的老妇，当时她正在从汽车后备箱里取东西。

这次袭击震惊了当地社区，海恩斯因其倡导透明度、气候行动和原住民权利而备受尊敬。

澳大利亚旺加拉塔，10 月 20 日——今天，澳大利亚一个乡村小镇笼罩在恐惧和难以置信的情绪中，一位备受尊敬的议员在一场看似有针对性的袭击中身受重伤。

前护士兼助产士海伦·海恩斯于 2019 年进入议会，她为消除腐败和加强透明度所做的努力赢得了跨越政治分歧的尊重。

昨天下午，一名 65 岁的老人在旺加拉塔被一辆两吨重的 SUV 撞倒，身受重伤。当局称这是一起“蓄意”暴力事件。

旺加拉塔市长艾琳·格兰特表示，这座拥有约 3 万人口的小镇笼罩在一片阴郁的气氛中。旺加拉塔是州首府墨尔本东北约 250 公里处的一个区域中心。

格兰特告诉法新社：“海伦备受尊敬。她勤奋努力。”

“海伦的遭遇让整个社区都震惊不已，难以置信。我们简直不敢相信，人们对发生的一切感到无比恐惧。”

海恩斯住在旺加拉塔郊外的一个小型养牛场，事发时她正在从汽车后备箱里拿东西，这时据称袭击她的司机驾驶着一辆丰田陆地巡洋舰从她身边驶过。

当局称，这名 43 岁的男子调转车头，然后猛地撞向海恩斯，将她挤压在自己的车上。

内政部长托尼·伯克表示，肇事司机随后倒车，再次撞击了她。

警方对嫌疑人的作案动机鲜有透露。

与此同时，当地居民很难理解为什么会有人想要伤害深受爱戴的海恩斯。

花店老板杰西·伍德罗说，海恩斯是个友善的人，当她不在首都堪培拉忙碌时，就会来她的店里逛逛。

伍德罗告诉法新社：“听到这个消息，我们感到无比悲痛。海伦是个非常善良的人，她心地善良，没有任何恶意。”

“这是你绝对想不到会在这里发生的事情。”

海恩斯于 2019 年以独立议员身份进入议会，代表幅员辽阔的印第选区。

她是一位很受欢迎的代表，在 2025 年的选举中以超过 18,000 票的巨大优势保住了席位。

海恩斯积极倡导采取更多气候行动、改善农村医疗保健以及帮助陷入困境的小企业。

维多利亚州原住民议会表示，海恩斯也是原住民权利的“坚定支持者”。

但或许正是她追究政治家责任的工作，为海恩斯赢得了议会内外最多的尊重。

“海伦·海恩斯以善良、同情、勤奋和智慧著称，”总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯说。

“她是一位强有力的倡导者，在政治光谱的各个层面都广受尊重，因为她倡导的方式非常尊重他人。”——法新社

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