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The motive is not yet known. A knife was allegedly found in his car after he was detained by a passerby when he exited his vehicle.\n \n \n Well-wishes towards Haines have flowed in from across the political spectrum. The prime minister held a snap press conference on Monday evening where he described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a \u201cthoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament\u201d.\n \n \n The opposition leader, the Greens leader David Shoebridge, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and a string of independent and Nationals MPs have also sent their thoughts to Haines and her family, with many describing Haines as representing \u201cthe very best\u201d in parliament.\n \n \n Thoughts and prayers for Haines came amid calls to lower the political temperature in Australia. Nationals MP in the neighbouring electorate of Nicholls, Sam Birrell, said the way people were engaging had become \u201cmore angry and heated\u201d, and added the alleged attack should be a \u201cwake-up call\u201d.\n \n \n Addressing the media in Wangaratta, Acting Supt Ashley Mason said police were still investigating whether the incident was targeted. He said there was no ongoing threat to the community and nothing to indicate the parties were known to each other.\n \nRise in threats towards parliamentarians should \u2018alarm every Australian\u2019, Centre for Public Integrity saysThe Centre for Public Integrity, an independent research institute that has had a longstanding relationship with Helen Haines, says if the alleged incident was intentional, it would be an \u201cact of democratic violence\u201d.In a statement, it said it was \u201cdevastated\u201d by the reports, describing Haines as an \u201cextraordinary parliamentarian and an extraordinary person\u201d.\n double quotation markHelen is one of Australia\u2019s most effective and determined champions of integrity in public life. Here at the Centre for Public Integrity we have been proud to work alongside her in many campaigns \u2026 Today, we welcomed the announcement of a new National Anti-Corruption Commissioner following a transparent and merit-based appointment process, precisely the type of reform Helen has long championed.\nThe body said it was \u201cshocked by the increasingly hostile environment in which Australian parliamentarians are working\u201d.Champion of integrity \u2026 Helen Haines. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPIMAGE/APIt pointed to Australian federal police data which showed it received 1,067 reports of threatening, harassing, nuisance and offensive behaviour directed towards parliamentarians, high office holders and associated offices and facilities in 2025\u201326, an increase of 12% on the previous year.\n double quotation markThese figures should alarm every Australian. Our democracy depends on people being willing and able to serve their communities, engage openly with the public and advocate for what they believe in, without fear for their personal safety.\n\u2018Lower the temperature\u2019, Nationals MP urgesThe Victorian state member for Euroa, Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland, has shared sentiments we heard earlier from the federal MP for her region, Sam Birrell, about the need to lower the temperature across the political divide.In a statement, she said she was \u201cshocked and appalled\u201d about the alleged attack on Helen Haines and \u201cviolence is never the answer\u201d.\n double quotation markTonight is a reminder of why it matters to turn down the heat. Our democracy depends on people being able to disagree without fear. The way we speak about each other matters, and every one of us has a responsibility to lower the temperature of our political debate.\n\u2018Violence is never the answer\u2019 \u2026 Annabelle Cleeland, member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The GuardianSimilarly, Tim McCurdy, the Nationals member for the Victorian seat of Ovens Valley, which centres on Wangaratta said:\n double quotation markAt a time like this, my thoughts are first and foremost with Helen herself and her loved ones. She is a proud representative of our community and above all, a decent human being who does not deserve this.\nAnd Warringah MP Zali Steggall, who sits next to Helen Haines in Parliament and has worked with her since 2019 when they were both elected, says she is \u201cshocked and devastated\u201d by the news. She said:\n double quotation markShe is a wonderful, caring, smart and wise friend and amazing representative for her community. I am thinking of Helen and her wonderful family.\nBenita KolovosHelen Haines \u2018adored by her community\u2019, Animal Justice party MP, Georgie Purcell, saysThe Animal Justice party MP, Georgie Purcell, whose Victorian upper house region of northern Victoria overlaps with parts of Helen Haines\u2019s seat of Indi, has described the independent as an \u201cabsolute powerhouse\u201d who is \u201cadored by her community\u201d.\n double quotation markThis shocking [alleged] attack will rattle the entire nation, but especially the people of Indi. And while a motivation is yet to be confirmed, I know this will also send chills down the spines of women in parliaments across the country, as well as candidates contesting the Victorian state election.\nShe says being a woman in politics \u201cchanges the way you move throughout the world\u201d, including where they park your car, the route to drive home or if they hold public events or keep their office doors locked. Purcell went on:\n double quotation markFor many of us, the news coming out of Wangaratta this evening is our worst nightmare. Only weeks ago I spoke in parliament about the escalating safety fears of women in public life \u2013 just as I have countless times before. We cannot continue to encourage women to put themselves forward for public office while failing to address the growing threats to our safety.\n Our parliaments and communities are better off because of people like Helen \u2013 a nurse and midwife who has advocated for regional Victoria relentlessly. We will all be poorer for it if people like her cannot safely participate in our democracy.\nHelen Haines was scheduled to appear on the ABC\u2019s Afternoon Briefing before alleged attackThe host of the ABC\u2019s Afternoon Briefing Patricia Karvelas has just told the public broadcaster that Helen Haines was due to appear on her program before the alleged attack occurred.Visibly emotional, Karvelas said Haines was to speak about the National Anti-Corruption Commission, for which she has been a long-time advocate, prior to the incident occurring.\n double quotation markShe couldn\u2019t do the interview \u2026 because she was [allegedly] brutally attacked. She couldn\u2019t do her democratic job \u2026 because of this. It\u2019s horrific, I think, and I\u2019m quite upset by it.\nNationals MP in neighbouring electorate says alleged attack should be a wake-up callThe Nationals member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, is appearing on ABC News. Birrell\u2019s electorate neighbours Indi and shares a long border.He says he is feeling \u201cshocked\u201d, having recently seen Helen Haines at an event in Euroa with the governor general.\n double quotation markHelen is a friend, we have our political differences but share a long electorate border \u2026 Helen Haines is not a divisive figure \u2026 She\u2019s a regional MP \u2026 just a local hard-working MP like I try to be and a lot of my colleagues. To have something like this occur in Wangaratta \u2026 That\u2019s the particular element that has sent a shock wave for me but also my colleagues.\nBirrell says he won\u2019t change his conduct in light of the alleged attack, adding \u201cwe don\u2019t hate each other in parliament\u201d, but points to rising anger he\u2019s seen in the community.\n double quotation markWe see each other as colleagues \u2026 It\u2019s a real feature of the Australian democracy that you can [come up to the local MP]. I don\u2019t want to see that lost.\n I think we\u2019ve all noticed the way people engage on social media and with our offices \u2026 has become more angry and heated. I agree with the prime minister that we need to take the temperature down.\nSarah Basford CanalesNeighbouring MP, David Farley, wishes Helen Haines the \u2018tenacity and strength of Hercules\u2019 to recoverAcross the Murray river in the neighbouring federal electorate of Farrer, One Nation MP, David Farley, said he was at home digesting the news.In a statement, he said:\n double quotation markWishing Helen Haines the tenacity & strength of Hercules to recover from her horrific injuries.\n Helen is the best of all of us, great representative, tenacious politician, genuine and authentic Australian.\n \n Our prayers across Farrer are with Helen and family tonight.\nWe brought you the statement from One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, earlier, who said \u201cviolence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for, is never acceptable in Australia\u201d.Jess Wilson says violence has \u2018no place\u2019 in VictoriaBenita KolovosThe Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, says she\u2019s deeply shocked about the \u201cterrible\u201d alleged attack on Haines. Her statement reads:\n double quotation markMy thoughts are with Helen, her family, friends and staff at this incredibly difficult time. I know Victorians everywhere will be hoping for her recovery.\n I want to thank the bystanders who rushed to help, along with Victoria Police, paramedics and the medical professionals caring for Helen.\n The circumstances of this [alleged] attack are deeply concerning, and it is important that police are given every opportunity to establish exactly what happened. Violence of this kind has no place in our state.\nShe added that she had spoken with premier Ben Carroll this evening and the duo are \u201cunited in our resolve that such extreme acts cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.\u201dWilson said:\n double quotation markHelen is a dedicated and decent person who has spent years standing up for her community. Right now, our thoughts are with her and those closest to her.\nThe deputy premier of Victoria, Gabrielle Williams, also threw her support behind Haines.In a statement posted to social media, she said she was \u201cdeeply shocked\u201d and her heart went out to Haines, her family and friends.\n double quotation markHelen is a fierce advocate for her community in Indi, and I know they\u2019ll be feeling this deeply as well.\nSpender says many have feared a violent incident against an Australian politicianSpender says many people have feared that there would be a violent incident against an Australian politician. Police are still investigating whether the incident involving Helen Haines was an intentional act.Earlier this evening, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the number of reports of harassment and threatening behaviour against MPs and high office holders had increased since last year.Spender tells ABC\u2019s 7.30:\n double quotation markLook, I think we\u2019ve seen an increase in, in violent language and also, you know, sort of some of the actions of jostling and other kind of actions against politicians. And I think many people have feared that there would be some sort of violent incident against Australian politicians. And I think this is of huge concern because I think we take pride in the fact that in Australia, you know, politicians are just like anybody else.\nAsked about incidents overseas, including in the UK where multiple MPs have been killed in recent years, she says everyone needs to tone down their language.\n double quotation markYou can\u2019t control everything, including you know, and we don\u2019t know the circumstances of this. But you know, we have always, we\u2019ve done better in this country and we have to continue to do better.\n Frankly, you know, the sort of abuse of people in our hospitals, in our supermarkets. This is part of a trend that we, I think as a country, not just as politicians. We need to step up for and say, you know what? You know, we behave in a way that we don\u2019t want to see this sort of violence in language or violence in attitude. And I think we collectively are responsible for that.\nIndependent member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, with Haines. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPWhat we know so farIf you\u2019re just joining us, here\u2019s a recap of what we know so far after the alleged attack on the independent member for Indi, Helen Haines.\n \n Haines has been critically injured in an alleged attack involving a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, at about 3.35pm.\n \n \n A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee is in custody, and the alleged attack is being investigated by the Australian federal police (AFP), Asio and the joint counter-terror taskforce. The motive is not yet known. A knife was allegedly found in his car after he was detained by a passerby when he exited his vehicle.\n \n \n The prime minister, the opposition leader, the Greens leader David Shoebridge, One Nation head Pauline Hanson and politicians across the parliament have sent their thoughts and well wishes to Haines and her family.\n \n \n In a snap press conference on Monday evening, Anthony Albanese described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a \u201cthoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament\u201d.\n \n \n Addressing the media in Wangaratta, Acting Supt Ashley Mason said police were still investigating whether the incident was targeted. He said there was no ongoing threat to the community and nothing to indicate the parties were known to each other.\n \nPolice cordon of the street near Helen Haines\u2019s electoral office. Photograph: ABCHaines is \u2018really inspirational\u2019, says SpenderAllegra Spender, who sits on the crossbench with Helen Haines, calls her one of the most outstanding people in parliament.She tells ABC\u2019s 7.30 Haines interrogates issues thoroughly but with enormous respect.Spender says she found out about the incident from her colleagues.\n double quotation markHelen is the best of us. Like, Helen is one of the most outstanding people in parliament.\n She\u2019s really inspirational. I often go and talk to her, particularly if I\u2019m looking at regional and rural issues and get her perspective on what her community thinks. But also, you know, \u2026 You see her with ministers, for instance. She takes the work incredibly seriously. 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