[Anchor]

In a small Australian town, a shocking vehicle attack targeted a sitting member of parliament. The lawmaker, who fell into critical condition, ended up losing both legs. The suspect is reportedly a supporter of the lawmaker, sending shockwaves through the community.

Videomug, with reporter Sim Yeong-gu.

[Reporter]

Wangaratta is a small town with a population of 30,000, located a little over 200 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, Australia.

At around 3:30 p.m. on October 19, local time, MP Haines was unloading luggage from the trunk of her car in front of her office.

Then, a white SUV approached.

According to witnesses, the vehicle made a U-turn, struck the lawmaker, and then reversed to hit her again.

[Lachie Jefferies / Witness (Local Barber): There was a loud crash with no sound of brakes. It was really shocking. I ran outside to see what was happening. And I saw Wangaratta residents, whom I know well, or at least most of them, already helping people at the scene.]

Police arrested 43-year-old Brendan Nugget at the scene.

The suspect has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing injury to a Commonwealth public official.

The charge of causing injury to a Commonwealth public official carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The lawmaker was rushed to a hospital in Melbourne and underwent surgery.

The suspect, Nugget, previously worked for a local anti-logging environmental group and followed MP Haines on social media.

Local media confirmed that he previously posted praise for MP Haines' response to climate change, and he also left a supportive message when MP Haines entered federal parliament in 2019.

The suspect's family stated that MP Haines is a friend of over 20 years, making this incident completely incomprehensible.

Police are treating the incident as a deliberate attack but have not yet revealed a specific motive.

Australia is known as a country where the distance between politicians and voters is relatively close.

It has been routine political activity for lawmakers to talk with residents on the street and listen to grievances directly at their constituency offices, but these encounters are becoming increasingly dangerous.

Reports of threats and harassment regarding politicians and high-ranking public officials filed with the Australian Federal Police have nearly doubled over the past four years.

A 2025 Australian parliamentary inquiry showed that 85 percent of lawmakers and staff had experienced violent or abusive behavior from voters, with about half responding that they experience such incidents multiple times a month.

Just a day after MP Haines was attacked, chilling comments were posted targeting another female politician.

After Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek posted a message on social media defending Senator Jacqui Lambie, a comment was posted suggesting that Senator Lambie should also be hit by an SUV.

Minister Plibersek stated that she herself has long suffered threats of murder and sexual assault, and no longer announces event schedules online beforehand.

Politicians now have to worry about their safety even when meeting citizens.

The Australian Federal Police and related agencies are conducting safety briefings for lawmakers and recommending that they share their schedules with police.

Ensuring the safety of politicians while maintaining open political activities for citizens.

Australian society is now grappling with these two challenges simultaneously.