Australian parliament pays tribute to injured independent MP Haines

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 05:08 · Archive

Australian parliament paid tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs in an alleged attack outside her electorate office.

Australian parliament resumed with increased security on Monday to pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines following an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office on 19 October. Haines lost both legs in the incident and remains in a serious but stable condition in a Melbourne hospital. A 43-year-old man has been charged with offences including intentionally causing serious injury. Police have not revealed a motive.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese led parliamentary tributes, proposing a motion expressing parliament's wish for Haines's recovery and support for her family. He called her 'a fighter' and said the shock from the alleged attack was 'like a stone in our hearts'. Haines's husband Phil Haines watched from the public gallery. MPs wore baby's breath flowers and orange heart lapel pins in the chamber, with an orange cockatoo placed at her seat.

Albanese also addressed broader concerns about political discourse. He described a rising tide of rage and aggression 'enabled by the anonymity and speed afforded by social media', stating this was visible not just in politics but also toward workers in hospitality, retail, schools and hospitals, and toward police and paramedics. He warned against normalising 'the language of grievance and violence' in public debate.

How it is being reported

• Australian parliament pays tribute to Helen Haines as PM Albanese condemns increasing ‘rage and aggression’Helen Haines was critically injured last week in an alleged act of political violenceIndependent World · 26 Oct, 04:36
• ‘Like a stone in our hearts’: PM leads Helen Haines tributes as parliament pauses to praise ‘fighter’Angus Taylor and Barnaby Joyce reject calls for change in parliamentary practice to cool political debate Follow our Australian politics live blog for latest updates Get our daily political email , free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese has led tributes to Helen Haines a week after the Indi MP was allegedly the target of an attack outside her electorate office, praising the independent as “a fighter” with a deep love of her community. Federal parliament paused on Monday for speeches about Haines, her husband, Phil, and her staff as she remained in a serious but stable condition in…Guardian World · 26 Oct, 00:48

In this story: Helen Haines · Anthony Albanese · Phil Haines · Allegra Spender · Australian Federal Police · Wangaratta · Australia

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