# Helen Haines was chatting with locals at a dog park on Monday morning. By afternoon, she was fighting for her life

https://mins.news/en/item/106884

- The Guardian, 2026-10-19 21:14 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/helen-haines-was-chatting-with-locals-at-a-dog-park-on-monday-morning-by-the-afternoon-she-was-fighting-for-her-life-ntwnfb

> Independent MP Helen Haines attended a dog park opening in Mansfield on Monday morning. At 3.35pm, as she unloaded a car outside her electorate office, a man understood to be known to authorities allegedly struck her with his car and turned around after seeing her. Haines is critically injured. The report says threats and abuse against Australian politicians have been increasing.

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