A deputada australiana Helen Haines, que foi atropelada por um veículo em um suposto ataque deliberado, teve as duas pernas amputadas, segundo anunciou o marido dela, Phil Haines, nesta quarta-feira (21).

Haines, que é deputada federal independente, permanece em estado estável no hospital após o caso, que ocorreu na segunda-feira (20), no meio da tarde, em uma via principal nas proximidades de seu escritório eleitoral em Wangaratta, no nordeste de Victoria.

“A perna esquerda de Helen foi amputada na segunda-feira. Tínhamos a esperança de que a direita pudesse ser salva, mas… os cirurgiões também tiveram de amputá-la”, declarou Phil Haines, marido da deputada há quase 40 anos, em uma coletiva de imprensa no hospital Alfred, em Melbourne.

“Tanto seu coração quanto sua mente estão em bom estado”, acrescentou.

Na segunda, a parlamentar, de 65 anos, estava retirando objetos do porta-malas do carro dela quando um homem passou por ela, antes de, supostamente, dar meia-volta e prensá-la contra o próprio veículo. Não se sabe o motivo do ocorrido.

Enquanto pessoas que estavam na rua corriam para ajudá-la, um barbeiro da região retirou o motorista do carro e o conteve até a chegada da polícia. Haines foi levada imediatamente de helicóptero para Melbourne, onde passaria por uma cirurgia.

Política popular e respeitada em Canberra, ela representa sua comunidade como deputada independente desde 2019.

Em declarações feitas após as de Phil Haines na mesma coletiva de imprensa, a governadora-geral Sam Mostyn disse que mantinha o rei Charles III informado sobre os acontecimentos.

A governadora-geral é nomeada pelo rei como chefe de Estado formal da Austrália, embora o país seja governado por um primeiro-ministro sob um sistema parlamentarista.

“A Austrália ainda está chocada e consternada com este ataque terrível. Sei que aqui, em Victoria em particular, as pessoas estão simplesmente atônitas e têm muita dificuldade em compreender a magnitude desta tragédia”, disse Mostyn.

Enquanto a pilha de buquês de flores crescia em frente ao escritório eleitoral de Haines, seu marido pediu às pessoas que considerassem fazer doações em vez disso.

“Ela adora flores, mas é um pouco difícil cuidar de tantos buquês”, pontuou Phil.

“Pedimos àqueles que desejam apoiar Helen financeiramente que façam uma doação ao Fundo Save the Children”, adicionou.

Suspeito comparece a tribunal na Austrália

O suposto agressor, Brendan Nugent, de 43 anos, compareceu a um tribunal nesta quarta-feira, acusado de direção perigosa resultando em lesões graves, de causar intencionalmente lesões graves e de causar danos a uma funcionária pública da Commonwealth.

Na audiência judicial, que foi bastante breve, o advogado de Nugent afirmou que ele sofria de uma condição neurológica rara e que, no momento, não estava sob medicação.

Não foi apresentado nenhum pedido de liberdade sob fiança, e a próxima audiência está marcada para o dia 4 de fevereiro.

Sessões informativas sobre segurança

Embora a polícia ainda precise determinar se o caso teve motivações políticas, o suposto ataque chocou o país e colocou em foco a segurança de seus líderes políticos.

Os integrantes do Parlamento receberam, nesta quarta-feira, em Canberra, sessões informativas detalhadas sobre segurança, enquanto a comissária da Polícia Federal Australiana apontava para o aumento das denúncias de assédio e ameaças contra parlamentares federais.

As autoridades observavam “uma crescente polarização política e um sentimento antigovernamental, bem como comportamentos impulsionados por teorias da conspiração e ressentimentos”, declarou a comissária Krissy Barrett em uma coletiva de imprensa.

“Indivíduos agindo sozinhos, motivados por uma combinação de ressentimentos pessoais, vulnerabilidades de saúde mental e preocupações ideológicas”, estavam contribuindo para essa tendência de alta, acrescentou.

O comissário-chefe da Polícia de Victoria, Mike Bush, disse que a polícia não dispunha de informações de inteligência sobre o suposto agressor de Haines que indicassem um risco iminente.

“Necesitará un barco más grande”. La famosa frase del asombrado Brody al capitán Quint cuando el enorme tiburón blanco hace inesperadamente su aparición en la película de Spielberg por la borda del pesquero Orca viene la cabeza al entrar en la nueva exposición de Cosmocaixa, Tiburones: los guardianes del océano. La muestra, presentada esta mañana en Barcelona, requiere sin duda un barco conceptual más grande del habitual para navegarla, tal es la cantidad de emoción e información que proporciona, incluidas diez reproducciones a tamaño natural de escualos, entre ellos un impresionante tiburón blanco de casi cinco metros, un tigre, un sarda (Carcharhinus leucas), un martillo, un toro (Carcharias taurus ) y un rarísimo y extinto Helicoprion, con una extravagante mandíbula en vertical que parece una sierra circular.

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© Quique García (EFE)

Deputada australiana Helen Haines teve as duas pernas amputadas, após ser deliberadamente atropelada por um homem em Victoria. Médicos tentaram salvar a perna direita, mas sem sucesso.

© JAMES ROSS/EPA

Federal lawmaker Helen Haines 'alive and stable,' husband says; suspect makes first appearance in court; police yet to announce motive, believe it was a targeted attack

La diputada australiana Helen Haines ha sufrido la amputación de ambas piernas, se ha informado este miércoles, a consecuencia del supuesto ataque que sufrió el pasado lunes, cuando un hombre la embistió con su coche mientras se encontraba frente a su oficina electoral. Mientras, el acusado por el ataque, que fue detenido inmediatamente después del atropello, ha comparecido ante un juez en Wangaratta, la localidad donde ocurrió el suceso, en el sur del país. Su abogado asegura que sufre una enfermedad neurológica y problemas de salud mental.

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© JAMES ROSS (via REUTERS)

Depois de dias em estado crítico, Helen Haines está “estável”. Polícia não encontrou qualquer contacto directo anterior entre deputada e arguido, que sofre de doença neurológica rara, disse advogado.

Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after being rammed by a car outside her electoral office, her husband said on Wednesday, as the man accused of the attack appeared in court.

Doctors amputated Haines’ left leg after the alleged attacker struck her twice with his car in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, on Monday, Phil Haines said. They worked for days to save her right leg but were ultimately unsuccessful, he told a press conference in Melbourne.

“The good news in all this is Helen is alive and she’s stable. That is the most important thing for our family,” he said.

Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old resident of the rural town of Tarrawingee within Haines’ electorate, was charged with three offences: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official.

Additional charges of cannabis cultivation and possession have also been laid against Nugent, court filings showed.

The suspect was restrained by members of the public at the scene before being arrested.

Haines, an independent lawmaker who has championed causes including climate change and regional housing, remains in critical condition.

Police are still investigating the motive for the rare attack on an elected official.

Suspect appears in court as police investigate motive

During a brief court appearance on Wednesday, the accused’s lawyer said his client suffers from a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis and was also being treated for concussion, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. His lawyer told the magistrate his client had some mental health concerns and that it was his first time in custody.

There was no application for bail, and the case was deferred until February 4.

Police say alleged attack was targeted

Anti-terrorism police are among the agencies investigating the incident. While police allege the attack was “targeted,” they believe it was an isolated incident.

There was no intelligence to suggest any threat to Haines, and the Australian Federal Police received no warning of any imminent danger from the alleged attacker, Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters.

“What I can say is we didn’t have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened on Monday afternoon,” she said.

Victoria state police said they could not find any direct past contact between Haines and the accused, with the motive still unknown.

“Motivation is one of these things that we absolutely need to explore. His motivation for this, what we allege is a deliberate attack, is very much a centrepiece of the investigation,” Victoria Police Chief Mike Bush said.

Bush declined to comment on the man’s mental health, saying the matter was before the court.

Haines had worked in nursing, midwifery and academia before being elected to parliament in 2019 for the rural seat of Indi, which she retained in both 2022 and 2025.

Concerns grow over safety of Australian politicians

Violent attacks on politicians are rare in Australia, where federal lawmakers, state leaders and even prime ministers are often seen shopping, grabbing coffee or attending community events with relatively little security.

However, concerns about politicians’ safety have grown in recent years amid rising political polarisation, online abuse and threats against elected officials, prompting calls for greater protections while preserving the accessibility that has long characterised Australian politics.

A man who allegedly rammed his car into Australian lawmaker Helen Haines outside her electoral office appeared in court on Wednesday, as police sought to understand the motive for the rare attack on an elected official.

Doctors amputated one of Haines’ legs after the alleged attacker struck her twice with his car in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, on Monday, Australian media and officials said. The suspect was restrained by members of the public at the scene before being arrested.

Haines, an independent lawmaker who has championed causes including climate change and regional housing, remains in critical condition.

Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old resident of the rural town of Tarrawingee within Haines’ electorate, was charged with three offences, according to court filings made public on Wednesday: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official.

Additional charges of cannabis cultivation and possession have also been laid against Nugent, the court filings showed.

During a brief court appearance on Wednesday, the accused’s lawyer said his client suffers from a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis and was also being treated for concussion, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. His lawyer told the magistrate his client had some mental health concerns and that it was his first time in custody.

There was no application for bail, and the case was deferred until February 4.

Police investigate motive behind alleged attack

Anti-terrorism police are among the agencies investigating the incident. While police allege the attack was “targeted,” they believe it was an isolated incident.

There was no intelligence to suggest any threat to Haines, and the Australian Federal Police received no warning of any imminent danger from the alleged attacker, Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters.

“What I can say is we didn’t have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened on Monday afternoon,” she said.

Victoria state police said they could not find any direct past contact between Haines and the accused, with the motive still unknown.

“Motivation is one of these things that we absolutely need to explore. His motivation for this, what we allege is a deliberate attack, is very much a centrepiece of the investigation,” Victoria Police Chief Mike Bush said.

Bush declined to comment on the man’s mental health, saying the matter was before the court.

Haines had worked in nursing, midwifery and academia before being elected to parliament in 2019 for the rural seat of Indi, which she retained in both 2022 and 2025.

Growing concerns over politicians’ safety

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday described the attack as clearly a “violent incident,” having earlier linked it to a domestic climate of ugly, polarised political debate.

“It’s a reminder that the world is a more dangerous and divided place than it was a generation ago,” he told ABC Radio.

Violent attacks on politicians are rare in Australia, where federal lawmakers, state leaders and even prime ministers are often seen shopping, grabbing coffee or attending community events with relatively little security.

However, concerns about politicians’ safety have grown in recent years amid rising political polarisation, online abuse and threats against elected officials, prompting calls for greater protections while preserving the accessibility that has long characterised Australian politics.

Brendan Nugent, from nearby Tarrawingee, was charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

What is needed is a fundamental restructuring of financial crime education in the private sector.

Father of suspect Brendan Nugent, 43, gives statement of support to Helen Haines; motive yet to be formally declared; lawmakers suggest gender-based violence to blame; suspect's anti-Israel posts surface online

Helen Haines continua em estado crítico no hospital Alfred, em Melbourne, para onde foi levada de helicóptero após o atropelamento, na segunda-feira, em Wangaratta, no sudeste da Austrália.

© JAMES ROSS/EPA

Haines ha centrado su labor parlamentaria en la mejora de los servicios sanitarios regionales, el acceso a la vivienda, la acción climática y la transparencia institucional Leer

Canberra, 20 oct (Prensa Latina) El ministro de Salud y Envejecimiento de Australia, Mark Butler, destacó hoy el impacto del servicio gratuito 1800Medicare en la atención médica nacional, tras permitir atenderse a más de un millón de ciudadanos.

The post Australia reconoce impacto nacional de servicio médico gratuito first appeared on Noticias Prensa Latina.

La Policía de Victoria confirmó la detención de un hombre de 43 años residente en Tarrawingee Leer

Um homem de 43 anos foi detido após atropelar a deputada Helen Haines à porta do seu gabinete em Wangaratta. Primeiro-ministro fala em "ataque", mas diz ser "demasiado cedo" para determinar motivação.

© Getty Images

SUV investe la parlamentare Helen Haines in Victoria, il premier Albanese: “Un attacco mirato”

La parlamentare federale indipendente Helen Haines è rimasta ferita in un incidente stradale davanti al suo ufficio nello stato di Victoria. Il premier Anthony Albanese parla di “un attacco mirato”, secondo quanto riferito dai giornali locali. Un SUV ha travolto Haines, provocandole gravi lesioni alla gamba.

Il giornalista di Melbourne Edward Godfrey ha spiegato che il dipendente di un salone da barba lì vicino ha raccontato al telefono che alcuni passanti avevano bloccato il guidatore del fuoristrada subito dopo l’impatto, scoprendo che l’uomo aveva un coltello a serramanico in tasca.

I familiari della donna confermano che l’episodio è avvenuto all’esterno della sua sede elettorale a Wangaratta, sempre nella regione di Victoria. La deputata, di 65 anni, è stata investita da una Toyota Landcruiser bianca verso le 15:35 ora locale.

Le forze dell’ordine hanno fatto sapere di essere al lavoro per capire se “si sia trattato di un atto intenzionale”, pur precisando di escludere una “minaccia in corso per la comunità”. Dal canto suo, Albanese ribadisce che “non si è trattato di un incidente” e che “sembra esserci stato un atto deliberato”, aggiungendo che le indagini vedono già il coinvolgimento della polizia antiterrorismo.

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L'articolo Australia, la deputata Helen Haines travolta da un suv davanti al suo ufficio: è grave proviene da Affaritaliani.it.

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The post What Australia could learn from SE Asia about managing China appeared first on Asia Times.

Helen Haines, 65, was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV outside her electoral district office mid afternoon in the city of Wangaratta in Victoria state, a police said.

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