Indi MP Helen Haines Loses Both Legs in Attack Outside Electorate Office

Helen Haines, the member for Indi, lost both legs in an alleged attack last week outside her Wangaratta electorate office. The 43-year-old man accused of the assault has been charged, and police are continuing their investigation into the incident. Haines remains in a serious but stable condition in the hospital.

Allegra Spender, the member for Wentworth, told parliament on Monday that Haines spoke immediately after waking from the procedure. According to Spender, Haines’s first words focused on the safety of her staff and expressed gratitude to the bystanders and doctors who helped her. Haines’s husband, Phil Haines, relayed these details to fellow parliamentarians.

Spender described Haines as a force for change, noting that her immediate concern for others reflected her character. She said the public recognized Haines for her empathy and grace, but she wanted to emphasize the member’s active role in pushing for reform.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes in the chamber on Monday. MPs wore baby’s breath flowers and orange heart lapel pins. An orange cockatoo, a symbol of Haines’s local campaign, sits at her empty seat. Albanese called Haines a fighter and said the shock of the attack felt like a stone in their hearts. He warned that social media anonymity has normalized rage and aggression toward public officials, workers in hospitality and retail, teachers, and police.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor rejected the idea that parliamentary debate caused the violence. He stated that the Westminster system relies on rigorous debate to settle differences, not physical force. Taylor argued that judges should impose harsher sentences on those found guilty of intimidation. He also urged Australians to celebrate their country more readily rather than feeling shame about its history.

One Nation member Barnaby Joyce told News24 that the attack was un-Australian. He said changing question time rules would not solve the underlying issues, such as the recent protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and aggressive public rhetoric. Joyce expressed doubt that minor procedural changes in Parliament would alter the national mood.

Parliament Speaker Milton Dick told the chamber that all members were praying for Haines’s recovery. He said he looks forward to the day she returns to her seat. Dick promised he will then call her to the floor with her standard introduction.