Victorian MP status update: Haines stable after double amputation
The Alfred hospital confirmed the change in condition on Saturday morning, while the driver accused of striking her faces new charges in Wangaratta.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Federal MP Helen Haines is in a serious but stable condition, according to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne. The medical team provided the update on Saturday morning, marking an improvement from her earlier critical but stable status. Haines lost both legs in a vehicle incident near her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon.
The sequence of events began when Haines was struck by a car on Monday. Surgeons at the hospital initially attempted to save her right leg. They ultimately performed a double amputation due to the severity of the injuries sustained. Her husband, Phil Haines, visited the hospital on Wednesday to address the public. He described Haines’s mental and emotional state as strong, stating that both her heart and her mind are in good shape.
Police charged Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old resident of Tarrawingee, on Tuesday. The charges include dangerous driving causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury. He also faces a Commonwealth offence for causing harm to a public official. Court documents indicate he was later charged with two additional offences for cultivating and possessing cannabis. Nugent appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail.
Haines’s staff announced on Friday that they plan to reopen the Indi electorate office next Thursday. The team noted that many staff members witnessed the incident and assisted Haines immediately. They requested patience from the public as the team takes time to recover personally. The office also highlighted the financial support for the MP’s chosen charity, Save the Children.
More than $730,000 has been raised for Save the Children in Haines’s honour. Phil Haines encouraged donors to contribute to the charity’s special appeal while his wife recovers. The funds reflect widespread support from the Indi community and people across Australia and internationally.
A community vigil took place in Wodonga on Wednesday evening following news of the amputations. Cathy McGowan, Haines’s predecessor as the member for Indi, attended the event. She described the community’s reaction as one of mixed emotions. The incident has also prompted a review of security protocols and political discourse in regional Victoria.
