An independent Australian MP who was struck by a car on Monday has had her leg amputated following what prime minister Anthony Albanese described as a deliberate attack.

Helen Haines, 65, underwent surgery overnight and remains in critical condition after being struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV outside her electoral district office in Wangaratta in Victoria, police said.

“This wasn’t an accident,” Mr Albanese told ABC. “There was a deliberate act, it would appear. We don’t know what the motivation is.” Early ⁠investigations suggested the car hit Haines as she was loading or unloading things from the trunk of her car, he said.

According to home affairs minister Tony Burke, witnesses said the alleged attacker reversed the vehicle and struck Haines a second time before a local barber intervened.

The 43-year-old driver, named by Australian media as Brendan Nugent, was detained by bystanders and later arrested. According to his social media handle, he was a passionate climate activist and had online interactions with the lawmaker seven years ago in 2019.

No charges have been laid against him; however, a joint Counter-Terrorism Team, comprising the Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, is probing the matter.

Charges could be brought against the driver related to causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, said AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett. They carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Ms Haines has lost one leg, while doctors are working to save the other, reported Australian media citing sources.

Mr Albanese said he had spoken to Ms Haines’ husband, passing on his “very warm and best thoughts” for her full recovery.

“I think all Australians will be thinking of her today, and her local community, particularly, will be quite distraught at this news of a terrible event occurring there in Wangaratta,” he said.

“Helen is much loved in that local community. She, of course, is loved by her family and her many friends as well, and they’ll be going through a difficult day today.”

The prime minister also hailed the barber, Ricky Jefferies, who ran from his shop after hearing a “loud bang”, initially believing the incident was a car accident. Mr Jefferies restrained the alleged attacker and removed a knife from him, telling him he couldn’t leave until police arrived.

“At this dark and terrible time, an element of light is the fact that a good Samaritan, someone rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta, put themselves potentially at risk by doing so, and that person is a hero today,” he said.

“I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention.”

Describing the incident, Mr Jefferies told reporters: “I heard a loud bang with no brakes. It was crazy, I just ran out ⁠to the front to see what’s happening.

“I didn’t realise the seriousness of the situation initially, and once it became relevant, I just did what I could and what others were already trying to do.”

Violent attacks on politicians are extremely rare in Australia, where MPs, state leaders and even prime ministers are regularly seen in supermarkets and coffee shops, attending community events and chatting with voters with minimal security.

Haines worked in nursing and midwifery and as an academic before being elected to parliament as an independent in 2019 in the seat of Indi. She retained the seat in 2022 and 2025.

Mr Albanese urged Australians to engage more respectfully with one another, expressing concern ‌about growing division in the country. ​He also noted a “significant increase” in threats against politicians in recent ‌years.

“We all have a responsibility to turn the ​temperature down,” he said. “I really don’t want to see the character of Australia change.”