Brendan Nugent, a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, has been charged with three serious offenses following an alleged targeted attack on the independent member for Indi, Helen Haines. The charges include dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offense of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
Victoria Police confirmed that Nugent is being held in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The arrest occurred on Monday afternoon after Nugent allegedly struck the MP with a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in northern Victoria.
Following the incident, Haines was airlifted to the Alfred hospital in Melbourne for emergency surgery. She remains in a critical but stable condition. According to reports, she has lost one leg, and medical teams were continuing their efforts on Tuesday to save her other leg.
Authorities disclosed that a highway patrol officer reached the scene just eight seconds after emergency services received the call. Additionally, police executed a search warrant at Nugent’s property on the Great Alpine Road on Tuesday morning.
Victoria Police stated that they will maintain an increased presence in Wangaratta, with members of the Public Order Response Team deployed to the area. Officials currently view the event as an isolated incident and have reported no other known threats linked to the matter.
