Helen Haines attack updates: Cops won’t rule out more charges, Brendan Nugent quiet in court as no bail sought

The role of social media in inflaming politics and driving young Australians to extremism will come under the microscope as the nation grapples with its worst alleged attack on a politician since the 1990s.

As their parliamentary colleague Helen Haines fights for her life in hospital following Monday’s alleged attack, a committee will hear from intelligence agencies, the eSafety Commissioner and the Home Affairs Department about what is driving radicalisation.

“Radicalisation is a complex and evolving challenge, particularly as online environments and new technologies increasingly shape how people communicate, access information and form communities,” Labor senator and committee chair Raff Ciccone said.

It was no longer just the fringes of the internet where extremist violence was being incubated, ASIO said in a submission to the inquiry.

“Mainstream social media is amplifying and accelerating a number of the drivers of radicalisation - grievance narratives, eroding trust in institutions, and promoting inflammatory rhetoric,” the intelligence agency said.

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Brendan Nugent has been charged with cultivating and possessing cannabis, in addition to three serious offences arising from the alleged vehicle attack on independent MP Helen Haines.

Court documents released to the media following his appearance at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday reveal the 43-year-old now faces five charges.

Police allege Nugent cultivated a cannabis plant and possessed cannabis at Tarrawingee on October 20, the day after Dr Haines was struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office.

“The accused at Tarrawingee on 20 October 2026 did cultivate a narcotic plant, namely Cannabis,” the charge sheet said.

“The accused at Tarrawingee on 20 October 2026 possessed a drug of dependence namely cannabis.”

The other charges include dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

The charge sheet alleges Nugent intended to harm Dr Haines because of her status as a public official.

“On 19 October 2026, the accused at Wangaratta, by driving a motor vehicle, namely a 1997 Toyota Troopcarrier [registration number], at speed or in a manner dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances of the case caused serious injury to [name omitted],” the charge sheet said.

“The accused at Wangaratta on 19 October 2026 did without lawful excuse intentionally cause serious injury to [name omitted].

“On 19 October 2026, the accused at Wangaratta did engage in conduct which caused harm to a public official, namely by driving his vehicle into her, having intended that this conduct would cause harm to the official, without the consent of the public official and because of the official’s status as a public official.”

Australia’s security services will hold briefings for politicians after an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines left her fighting for her life.

The alleged attack on the widely respected member for Indi has prompted calls to review security arrangements for politicians, who are reporting ramp-ups in violent rhetoric and threats on their physical safety.

Federal parliamentarians have already received six briefings from federal police, ASIO and the home affairs department in 2026.

Dr Haines’ fellow Victorian independent MP Monique Ryan told ABC Radio she had already referred two threats against her to law enforcement since Monday’s alleged attack.

“Just in the last 24 hours, my office has had at least two individuals who we’ve had to talk to the police about,” she said.

Dr Ryan lamented the possibility of surrounding MPs with more security, but said the idea merited discussion.

“It would detract from politicians’ enjoyment of their job, but it would also detract from their ability to do their job,” she said.

“I don’t think that just upping the ante on police and security is going to fix the problem or stop horrible things from happening again.

“Having said that, it is important that we do what we can to keep public figures safe.”

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Brendan Nugent sat silently between two security officers during a brief appearance at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning.

Wearing a grey jumper and tracksuit pants, the 43-year-old was brought into a small but packed courtroom for a hearing that lasted just minutes.

No details of the charges against him were read aloud, and his lawyer, Mr Patel, made no application for bail.

Defence lawyer Chirag Patel told the court Nugent suffered from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder, and had also been suffering from concussion.

Magistrate Allison Vaughan directed that Nugent be assessed by a medical professional.

His lawyer confirmed it was his first time in custody and he was not currently prescribed medication.

Nugent was remanded in custody, with prosecutors given until December 24 to serve their hand-up brief ahead of a committal mention on February 4, 2027.

Brendan James Nugent’s lawyer has raised concerns about his client’s health during his first appearance at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Nugent suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder, and has also been suffering from concussion.

His lawyer requested that he be assessed by a medical professional while in custody.

No application for bail was made.

The prosecution has been ordered to serve its hand-up brief by December 24, with Nugent’s committal mention scheduled for February 4.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says the force lays charges against about one person every week over threats made to parliamentarians.

“The NSI teams are charging almost one individual every week for targeting Commonwealth, Parliamentarians, or high officeholders,” she said.

“I hope that this terrible event that will forever change the life of the member for Indi and her family gives our country time to pause and reflect on the growing threats and unlawful behaviour against those who hold a Commonwealth Office in Australia.

“The current criminal threat environment is febrile.”

Commissioner Barrett said the “growing volume of abuse” online meant the attack on Dr Haines was not surprising.

“The shocking alleged attack is what many had been dreading for some time,” she said.

“Commonwealth Parliamentarians have become increasingly worried about threats directed at them and at their staff.

“Agencies like the AFP... have been increasingly concerned about the number of individuals being warned and being charged about their behaviour, particularly their online threats and abuse.”

Victoria Police say they will not rule out further serious charges after Brendan Nugent was hit with three charges on Tuesday night.

When asked by reporters if the force would consider laying attempted murder charges, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it was “always a consideration.”

“While I say this investigation is far form complete, we are not ruling out further serious charges,” he said.

“Of course, we have to locate and follow the evidence ... we will be looking at all serious charges.”

Mr Bush described the attack as “deliberate but isolated.”

“I want to further add that we have deployed a number of staff into Wangaratta to give assurance to members of the public,” he said.

“We do believe this was deliberate, but isolated.”

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says Brendan Nugent was not on the force’s radar before the alleged attack on Helen Haines.

“We had no intelligence … against this 43-year-old individual and there was nothing known to us that would have arisen or piqued our interest that he was an immediate threat,” he said.

When asked if Mr Nugent had been linked to the soverign citizen movement, Mr Bush said the force’s investiation so far had not found any evidence of this link.

“That’s obviously something we’re exploring. We haven’t had any direct evidence of that,” he said.

“Like everyone, we’re examining social media associations, talking to witnesses, friends and colleagues.”

Chief Commissioner Bush has thanked emergency crews for their swift response to the “traumatic” incident.

He revealed police officers and paramedics arrived on scene “within seconds”.

“In fact, I think it was eight seconds,” Commissioner Bush said.

Commissioner Bush also praised the actions of emergency services which “prevented further serious harm to Helen.”

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says Helen Haines “remains in very good care and in a critical but stable condition” after she was struck by a car allegedly driven by Brendan Nugent.

He told reporters detectives’ thoughts remain with the MP as the force investiagtes the “deliberate but isolated attack”.