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

Australia’s politicians have been facing increasing threats and abuse. It can no longer be dismissed as social media noise or harmless comment Follow our live blog for latest updates Politicians condemn alleged attack after independent MP Helen Haines critically injured Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria? Victorian independent MP Helen Haines was at the opening of a dog park in Mansfield on Monday, out and about the sprawling northern Victorian electorate, talking to locals and moving freely. Later in the afternoon, at 3. 35pm, she was unpacking a car outside her electorate office when a man understood to be known to authorities struck her with his car .