Haines won the seat of Indi as an independent in 2019 and has since become a prominent member of the crossbench, building rapport across Australia's increasingly divided political spectrum. A 43-year-old man has been charged after independent Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in the state of Victoria on Monday.
Haines, 65, the member for Indi, remains in a critical but stable condition at a Melbourne hospital after undergoing surgery. Local media earlier named the alleged attacker as environmental activist Brendan Nugent, whose family stated they have known Haines for more than 20 years.
The suspect will appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the federal offence of causing harm to a public official.