Independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition following surgery to save her remaining leg, while the man charged with attacking her has been remanded in custody until a hearing scheduled for 4 February. Brendan Nugent did not apply for bail.
Judge Allison Vaughan noted that Nugent has mental and neurological difficulties and requested that a mental health professional see him immediately after his court appearance. This is Nugent's first time in custody and he is not on his prescribed medication, while his lawyer Chirag Patel stated that he is not going through a substance withdrawal crisis.
Patel also stated that Nugent suffers from a concussion and idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological condition. It is an inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that leads to loss of muscle strength, sensory symptoms such as tingling, and dysfunction of the bladder and bowel, according to the Brain Foundation. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include intravenous steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs; in most cases, there is permanent damage to limb function. Patel left the court in Wangaratta and declined to speak to the media.
Nugent has been charged with additional offences on top of three other counts, with a fourth charge revealed in a summary of charges provided to the media. It states that he cultivated and used cannabis. The other charges include dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and an offence of harming a public official. The motive for the attack is still unknown.
One of Nugent's neighbours in Tarrawingee was in the courtroom during his appearance. He said he was shaking but "wanted to look him in the eye". "I felt it was something I had to do", the neighbour said, adding: "I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, but I am very glad now." He also noted: "It feels like a very bad chapter in our lives is ending."
Helen Haines' office is less than 100 metres from the court in Wangaratta and remained closed on Wednesday. Nugent was due to appear after 10:00, and the court was surrounded by media cameras in the morning. In the hours after the attack, dozens of flowers and cards were left for Helen Haines, much of it in her recognisable orange colour. One message read: "To Dr Helen Haines, to show you the support you have shown us through difficult times."
Anthony Albanese described the police interview with Brendan Nugent on Tuesday as "extensive". Krissy Barrett was asked about the allegedly increasingly radical political views that the man charged with attacking Helen Haines had reportedly posted on social media, and whether the AFP was aware of his posts on X and other platforms. "We did not have any specific intelligence indicating anything as terrible as what happened on Monday afternoon", Barrett said. "We absolutely proactively use online capabilities to gather intelligence", she added, confirming: "I can confirm that we had no information or intelligence indicating that there was any threat to MP Haines." The AFP will hold a series of security briefings for politicians in Canberra today, and police allege they charge "almost one individual every week" for targeting politicians.
