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Australian Lawmaker Helen Haines Loses Both Legs After Alleged Targeted Car Attack

    Australian Lawmaker Helen Haines Loses Both Legs After Alleged Targeted Car Attack

    MELBOURNE, October 21, 2026 [VoM News]: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after being struck by a vehicle in what police have described as a “targeted” attack, her husband said on Wednesday.

    The 65-year-old independent lawmaker remains in stable condition at a Melbourne hospital after being hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser near her office in Wangaratta, more than 200 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, on Monday.

    Her husband, Phil Haines, said surgeons had been forced to amputate both her legs but stressed that she was alive and stable.

    Police have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with offences including dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of harming a public official. He also faces cannabis-related charges.

    Nugent appeared before a court in Wangaratta on Wednesday and did not apply for bail. His next hearing is scheduled for February 4.

    Authorities have not established a motive and said the investigation remains underway. Police are examining several possibilities, including whether the accused held radical anti-government views.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed support for Haines and raised concerns about increasingly heated and personal political discourse.

    [inputs from AFP]

    About the Author

    Dil Bar Irshad
    Dil Bar Irshad
    Owner/Editor_In_Chief

    Dil Bar Irshad is an Indian journalist, writer, and media entrepreneur from the Marmat area of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of VoM News ("Voice of Masses"), a digital news portal dedicated to highlighting public grievances and citizen issues. Career Overview • Early Career (2015–2016): He began his reporting career focusing on local public issues and citizen grievances in Jammu and Kashmir. • Regional & National Journalism: Over the years, he served as a District Correspondent for the English newspaper Khalsa Express News (2019–2020) and worked as an Urdu correspondent for Sada e Kohistan. He also reported as a J&K Correspondent for the Millennium Post. • International Reporting: In 2023, he expanded into international journalism, working as an India Correspondent for global agencies like BNN Breaking and later TrimFeed, covering diverse topics ranging from stock market updates to regional and global geopolitical developments. • Media Associations: He is an active member of the All India Media Association. Seen IN: Editor-in-Chief, VoM News India, Jammu and Kashmīr Business and Finance, Crime and Justice, Environment As seen in: VoM News, MSN, MSN India, MSN Singapore, MSN UK, Youth Ki Awaaz, Millennium Post, AgroPages, The California Courier, Hecho En California, Justice News, The Chenab Times, Niguro, Sisnoo

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