Australian MP hit by vehicle has leg amputated - as suspect's father says she is family friend

Police have charged a man after an Australian MP was hit by a vehicle, causing her to undergo a leg amputation.

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

Detectives from the Security Investigation Unit (SIU) have today charged the 43-year-old, from Tarrawingee, Victoria, who has been taken into custody.

He has since been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

He will be held overnight to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Media reports in Australia suggested surgeons were working to save the other leg, and she remains in a critical condition.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said early investigations suggest she was struck as she was loading or unloading things from the boot of her vehicle.

Haines worked in nursing and midwifery and as an academic before she was elected to parliament as an independent in 2019 in the seat of Indi, which she retained in 2022 and 2025.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said: "At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident."

A Highway Patrol Unit was nearby at the time and on scene within eight seconds of the call coming through.

The suspect was named earlier on Tuesday in reports as Brendan Nugent.

The father of Nugent, Rod Nugent, and his partner, Christine Cunningham released a statement to say that Haines is a friend of theirs.

The statement read: "Helen Haines is a deeply respected, valued and much-loved member of our local community.

"Helen has been our friend for more than 20 years and what happened to her yesterday is devastating and unfathomable.

"All of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends.

"We would like to sincerely thank members of the local community and police who came to Helen's aid yesterday after the shocking and horrific crime. We will be assisting Victoria Police in any way we can."

(c) Sky News 2026: Australian MP hit by vehicle has leg amputated - as suspect's father says she is family friend