Australian lawmaker loses leg after car attack
Wangaratta, AUSTRALIA—Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has lost a leg after being struck by a car in a deliberate attack, local media said on Tuesday.
Political violence is rare in Australia, but law enforcement has documented a steady rise in threats and abuse directed toward the nation’s elected officials in recent years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was a “test of our character” and led an outpouring of support for Haines, widely praised for her efforts to increase transparency in politics and crackdown on corruption.
She was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in the town of Wangaratta, just over 200 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, at around 3:35 p.m. (0435 GMT) on Monday.
Witnesses told national broadcaster ABC they heard a bang and saw a woman pinned between two cars. She was getting things from the trunk of her car when the attack happened, Albanese said. The driver did a U-turn to get back to her after passing, he added.
“It’s clear this was a deliberate act,” he said. The 65-year-old was critically injured. She underwent surgery overnight.
