An anti-Israel activist and radical environmentalist has been identified as the man accused of deliberately driving a Toyota LandCruiser into federal MP Helen Haines outside her electorate office in regional Victoria, in an attack that resulted in the loss of one of her legs.
Brendan Nugent, 43, remains in police custody, with detectives expected to formally interview him today.
He has a history of activism in the area, but someone who knew him said he had ventured into ‘darker’ territory since his involvement in local forest logging protests.
In a twist, Haines followed an X account under Nugent’s name that describes him as a ‘plant person’ and ‘pro-Gaza’ and states that ‘the world should be run by dogs and children’.
The account had interacted with Haines on several occasions, most recently six years ago, when it praised her stance on climate change in a reply to the MP after she promoted an episode of the ABC panel show Q+A.
‘Would’ve been nice to include a politician who takes climate change seriously, such as yourself,’ the account wrote.
The account also features posts about Israel‘s war in Gaza, environmental issues and, just days ago, a ‘satanic child sexual abuse material network’.
A photo of a 1997 Toyota LandCruiser uploaded in 2018 shows a vehicle bearing the same number plate as the one allegedly used in Monday’s incident.
Federal MP Helen Haines has lost a leg and remains in a critical condition after an alleged deliberate attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office
Brendan Nugent, 43, from nearby Tarrawingee, remains in police custody over the incident. No charges had been laid as of Tuesday morning
Other posts criticised the government’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, including one calling Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong ‘a couple of US lap dogs’.
‘Couple of US lap dogs. Maybe if you had warned israel about its attacks the world wouldn’t be where it is right now,’ the account wrote.
Several other posts criticised Israel and US support for its military campaign.
‘The Biden administration’s ‘no daylight’, unconditional support for Israel has provided so much leeway that Tel Aviv has no way of climbing down from its stated war objectives, despite having achieved none,’ one post read.
The account also sought donations for people in Gaza.
In another post, it described former female US secretaries of state as ‘mass murderers of innocent civilians’.
The account replied to Senator Wong’s statement on the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who died after an Israel Defense Forces drone struck the aid convoy carrying her in April 2024.
‘What an insult to this womans life’, the account wrote.
Nugent has a history of environmental activism, but someone who knew him said he had ventured into ‘darker territory’ since taking part in local logging protests
Haines followed an X account under Nugent’s name that describes him as a ‘plant person’ and ‘pro-Gaza’ that’s critical of the government’s response to Israel
A photograph uploaded to the account in 2018 shows a Toyota LandCruiser bearing the same number plate as the vehicle allegedly used in Monday’s attack
‘Help the children of Gaza,’ it stated in a post on August 25, 2024.
In his last post on October 18, he pointed to reports alleging ‘sexual abuse, including rape’ of prisoners ‘during processing and detention by Israeli forces’.
He also spoke out over environmental issues like climate change and forestry, and against the Victorian government over logging projects.
His posts also covered familiar conspiracy themes, including paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Charlie Kirk’s death and political control.
Police and counter-terrorism authorities are expected to examine his social media activity as part of their inquiries.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE ATTACK ON HAINES?
The independent MP for Indi lost a leg and remains in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery in Melbourne overnight.
Haines was retrieving belongings from the boot of her car, parked on Murphy Street, when she was repeatedly struck.
Witnesses said the driver made a U-turn and smashed the vehicle into her.
‘What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time,’ Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Anthony Albanese said there had been a concerning rise in people threatening politicians
Helen Haines and her husband Phil
The mother-of-three and grandmother was pinned by the four-wheel-drive and suffered ‘severe’ lower-body injuries.
She was initially treated at a local hospital before being airlifted about 250km to Melbourne.
Nugent, from Tarrawingee, near Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and taken into custody.
It comes as details emerge about the hero barber who dragged Nugent from his LandCruiser, kicked away a flick knife and pinned him to the ground, after he allegedly drove into Haines.
Ricky Jefferies rushed to help after the politician was targeted outside his Wangaratta barber shop, next door to Haines’s electorate office.
Mr Jefferies pulled Haines from the vehicle and wrestled him to the ground.
‘It happened directly out the front of my shop,’ he said. ‘I pulled the man out of the white Landcruiser.’
Mr Jefferies then allegedly found a flick knife in the man’s pocket, kicked it away and restrained him until police arrived.
A man wore a ‘this is not us’ shirt following the attack on Helen Haines outside her electorate office
Another person left a heartfelt note and a bunch of flowers at the door of the politician’s offic
‘When I pulled him out from the vehicle I searched him and found a knife in his pocket,’ he said.
‘I had him sit on the ground and police got there within minutes.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Mr Jefferies on Tuesday, describing him as a hero whose intervention may have prevented further injuries.
‘It’s got to be said here that 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 … and that person is a hero today,’ he told Nine.
‘And I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even more further infliction of damage, which was aimed at Helen.’
Albanese said it was clear it was a deliberate attack.
‘It would appear that the driver of the vehicle that inflicted the damage to Helen Haines did a u-turn in order to get back to where Helen Haines was after passing where she was getting things from the boot or putting things into the boot of her car,’ he said.
‘So it’s clear that there was a deliberate act here. This wasn’t an accident, someone just skidding off the road here.’
Albanese said the motive remained unclear, but said there had been a significant increase in the number of people charged with threatening politicians.
‘It’s important in a democracy that people are allowed to have disagreements. But that doesn’t mean that you have to draw into question people’s motivations or their patriotism or who they are,’ Albanese said.
‘We’ve seen, I think, political discourse go in the wrong direction in recent times and I want us to acknowledge in the way that politics is conducted.’
Haines is widely known in Canberra and nationally as a strong voice for integrity and honesty in politics.
She played a key role in establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission and has been a prominent advocate for rural issues, especially healthcare.
Her other priorities have included stronger climate action, cheaper home batteries and regional housing.
She has urged Australia to impose sanctions on Israel and put greater pressure on the Netanyahu government to end the conflict, while calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urgent humanitarian aid.
She worked as a nurse, midwife and rural health researcher before entering politics.
Haines’ family released a statement, asking Australians to think of Helen.
‘We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response,’ Haines’ family said.
‘Our family, and Helen’s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media. Please keep Helen in your thoughts.’
