Man charged with attack on Australian MP as suspect's father says she is family friend

ByKaty Watson, Australia correspondent, Reporting fromWangaratta, north-east Victoria and Phelan Chatterjee.

Key points

• A 43-year-old man has been charged after Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in the state of Victoria on Monday.
• As they confirmed the charges against the 43-year-old, they stated they had searched a property in Tarrawingee, around 12km (7.5 miles) from Wangaratta.
• "Helen Haines is a deeply respected, valued and much loved member of our local community, " Rod Nugent and his partner Christine Cunningham remarked in an official note.
• Haines, 65, the independent member for Indi, is in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery at a Melbourne hospital.
• At a vigil on Tuesday, locals queued patiently in the aisle of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, waiting for their turn to light a candle.

Notably, a 43-year-old man has been charged after Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in the state of Victoria on Monday.

In practice, the suspect will appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of causing harm to a public official.

Local media earlier named the alleged attacker as environmental activist Brendan Nugent. His father and his partner remarked they had been friends with Haines "for more than 20 years" and thanked residents and officers who assisted her after the "shocking and horrific crime".

Haines remains in a critical condition after surgery and is documented to have lost one of her legs.

"All of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends." They promised to assist Victoria Police "in any way we can". Police say they will allege the incident was targeted.

Haines, 65, the independent member for Indi, is in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery at a Melbourne hospital. She was airlifted there after bystanders rushed to support.

Notably, a local barber who was there notes he pulled the suspect out of his car.

"I don't think I'm a hero. I think that I was just a person who had an opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish way, " remarked Ricky Jefferies.

Others who supported "didn't even check for danger", he went on. "The car was still on and they sat in front of a rolling car, that's not an exaggeration."

In their statement, Victoria Police say a highway patrol unit was nearby at the time of the incident and "on scene" within eight seconds of the call coming through.

"At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident, and there are currently no other known threats connected to this matter, " they remarked, adding officers would maintain a presence in Wangaratta.

Haines won the seat of Indi as an independent in 2019, and has since become a prominent member of the crossbench, building rapport throughout Australia's increasingly divided political spectrum. The community, and country, remain in shock.

At a vigil on Tuesday, locals queued patiently in the aisle of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, waiting for their turn to light a candle. Priests hugged some of those who came to pay their respects.

Wangaratta's main street, where Haines's office is located, had reopened to traffic. Cars gradually filed past the growing number of bouquets being left for her on the pavement.

One card read: "May you recover quickly and continue to be a light in this world."

In short, man charged with attack on Australian MP as suspect' s father says she is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.