Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Helen Haines was getting things from the trunk of her car when the attack happened outside her office in the town of Wangaratta. (EPA Images pic)MELBOURNE: Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines underwent surgery overnight but remains in a critical condition after being struck deliberately by a car in an attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday.
Political violence is rare in Australia, but law enforcement have documented a steady rise in threats and abuse directed towards the nation's elected officials in recent years.
Albanese said the attack was a "test of our character" and led an outpouring of support for Haines, widely praised for her efforts to increase transparency in politics and crack down on corruption.
