Car hits Australian MP Helen Haines outside her office
A driver deliberately hit Independent MP Helen Haines with a car outside her Wangaratta office in Victoria, leaving her in critical condition. Politicians across parties condemned the attack, which commentators linked to rising online political hate.
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What happened
Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria, and was reported to be in critical condition. Politicians across the spectrum condemned the incident, with a Nationals MP from a nearby electorate describing Haines as not a divisive figure. Commentators used the attack to highlight rising political hate speech online.
Timeline
- Oct 19, 6:00 AM ET: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was reported in critical condition after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office.
- Oct 19, 6:30 AM ET: Condemnation came from across the political spectrum after the incident in Wangaratta.
- Oct 19, 9:18 PM ET: Commentary called on leaders to act on political hate speech following the alleged attack.
- Oct 20, 4:46 AM ET: Reports said threats of political violence had soared in Australia's online echo chamber.
Coverage
- Threats of political violence soar in Australia’s ‘online echo chamber’ (The Japan Times)
- Political hate speech can have real-word fallout. After the alleged attack on Helen Haines, our leaders must act (The Guardian)
- ‘Everything you would want from a politician’: who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria? (The Guardian)
- Australian lawmaker Helen Haines in critical condition after vehicle attack (CNBC)
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