Brendan Nugent faces three charges over the alleged attack as the member for Indi remains in a critical condition.

Brendan Nugent faces three charges over the alleged attack as the member for Indi remains in a critical condition.

After the attack on Helen Haines, Australia’s political class faces a test of its ability to respond maturely and act firmly.

After the attack on Helen Haines, Australia’s political class faces a test of its ability to respond maturely and act firmly.

The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.

The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.

The attack on independent MP Helen Haines is a dark shift in Australia’s national life.

In a town of 30,000, where the local MP is as likely to be encountered at a coffee shop as on the 6pm news, people have been left struggling for words.

Politicians are regularly asking our community to disagree well, but our own hypocrisy is often on display. We need to collectively look in the mirror and consider how we got here.

Social media vitriol is a strange amalgam of public and personalised. It is posted for all to see, but it is deeply silo-ed, which is to say that I don’t know what’s happening in your feed, and you don’t know what’s happening in mine.

Victoria Police have charged Brendan Nugent, 43, over what they say was a targeted incident. He will appear in court on Wednesday.

Victoria Police have charged Brendan Nugent, 43, over what they say was a targeted incident. He will appear in court on Wednesday.

Hear from one of the first people to help after a driver allegedly drove into the independent MP.

The 43-year-old has a history of activism in the Wangaratta area, but neighbours described him as an “absolute nut job” and a “nightmare”.

The 43-year-old has a history of activism in the Wangaratta area, but neighbours described him as an “absolute nut job” and a “nightmare”.