Australia's Parliament to Pay Tribute to MP Helen Haines, Who Lost Both Legs After Being Rammed by a Vehicle

Australia's parliament resumes on Monday with tributes to independent MP Helen Haines. A week after she was seriously injured when a vehicle rammed her outside her electoral office on the main street of Wangaratta in Victoria, she remains in hospital.

On 19 October a four-wheel drive struck Helen Haines. The incident has been described as an alleged deliberate attack in which she was targeted. Both of her legs have been amputated as a result.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a speech to parliament on Monday, reflecting on the alleged assault and its impact, and will invite colleagues to speak as well.

Fellow independent MP Monique Ryan described Haines as the parliament's “most gentle, principled and kind” member. Ahead of her own remarks in the lower house, Ryan said people who love Haines would try to do justice to her integrity and leadership.

Haines's family set up a fundraiser for the charity Save the Children on Wednesday, in lieu of flowers. By Sunday afternoon, donations to the fundraiser had surpassed $1.2 million.

The Speaker of the House, Milton Dick, will call for civility in parliament on Monday, and some politicians are expected to sign a “civility pledge”. Haines was the first MP to sign the pledge before she was allegedly attacked.

Independent MP Kate Chaney told ABC radio on Monday that she would be adding her name to the pledge. In her words, the pledge simply says that in her political life she pledges to act with honesty, respect and compassion.

Cabinet minister Mark Butler said safety concerns and threats have changed dramatically for MPs, their families and their staff. He told ABC Radio National that he has been in parliament for almost 20 years, and that the number and nature of threats of violence and death — not just against MPs but against their children, partners and staff — are like nothing seen 20 years ago.

Against that backdrop, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson rejected criticism of her party's controversial cartoon series. She said the Please Explain animation series had nothing to do with the tragic attack on Helen Haines and that the cartoons would not be going anywhere. She claimed major-party politicians wanted the series censored.

As parliament returns in Canberra this sitting week, senators are also returning for the first week of estimates hearings in five months. But the sitting week will begin solemnly, with tributes to Haines.