Helen Haines: independent MP in critical condition in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after being struck by car in Wangaratta – follow updates

A joint counter-terrorism taskforce is investigating the incident, which Anthony Albanese alleged ‘wasn’t an accident’ ‘Deeply appalled’: politicians condemn alleged attack after Helen Haines critically injured Helen Haines, the principled MP respected across parliament What we know so far Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast Asked if security would be stepped up following the attack, Albanese said he doesn’t want policians to lose the ability to engage with their communites. We take the advice of the security agencies, including, of course, the Australian Federal Police, you know, and we act upon that advice, but I never want to lose the opportunity for people to mix with their representatives. That’s a really important part of our democracy. But we continue to take advice. All of us are responsible for that. Whether we’re politicians, whether we’re the media, whether we’re citizens, in just being able to discuss things in a civil way. We can have disagreements in a democracy. Continue reading...