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Key events 2h ago Haines’s first words after alleged attack relayed to parliament 3h ago NSW to open gun buyback program bookings from noon today 4h ago Alleged attack on Haines ‘unfathomable’, Angus Taylor says 4h ago ‘Helen Haines is a fighter’: PM 4h ago Albanese pays tribute to Helen Haines in parliament 5h ago MPs to place orange cockatoo sign on Haines’ seat in parliament 6h ago Cheaper contraception and UTI treatments as pharmacy program expanded 6h ago MPs to ‘try to do justice’ to wounded fellow MP Helen Haines 6h ago Hanson says One Nation cartoons ‘not going anywhere’ despite criticism Zali Steggall offers emotional tribute to Helen Haines Speaking through tears, one of Haines’s crossbench colleagues, Zali Steggall , has said she has been going around in circles in attempts to express all she wants to say. She tells the parliament: double quotation mark We are all struggling to process the shock and grief at what has happened. Steggall regales the chamber with stories of the first time they met in-person in 2019 and their parliamentary friendship. double quotation mark There have been plenty of tough times in the last seven years, from the Black Summer bushfires to Covid.
But through it all, you’ve been there to support and guide the community of Indi, myself, and many others in this Parliament Helen, I’ve had so many chats with you sitting in this chamber. You’re the matriarch of the crossbench, always a voice for respectful political debate. We have heard your words loud and clear: kindness over hate.
It’s time to diffuse the tension and consider how our words are being received by others in the community beyond this place. Helen and Phil, we have an opportunity before us to move forward with hope and kindness. We have a responsibility to bring Australia together.
Independent member for Warringah Zali Steggall pays tribute to Independent member for Indi Helen Haines, Monday, 26 October, 2026. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Taylor urges government to call out ‘all extremism’ and celebrate Australia Angus Taylor has urged government to call out and confront “actual sources of intolerance, of intimidation, of political violence in our country”. He tells parliament: double quotation mark The government has been absolutely right to call out far-right extremism.
But all extremism must be called out. Every source must be named, must be targeted, and must be fought, especially through our additional funding for intelligence and law enforcement. Taylor has urged judges to come down harder on those guilty of acts of intimidation or violence.
He also calls on Australians to celebrate their country: double quotation mark Too many Australians have been taught to feel guilty and shame about our country and about our history. Is it any wonder that some feel deep animosity towards our democracy, our institutions, and our nation? Is it any wonder that we see war memorials graffitied and statues defaced?
Taylor disagrees with link between parliamentary debate and violence Taylor has called on politicians to reflect on Australia’s democracy. double quotation mark In the past week, it has been suggested by some there is a causal connection between robust parliamentary debate and political violence. I disagree with this view. The Westminster system is about settling differences through robust and rigorous debate, not violence...
Importantly, we debate with adversarial vigour, but we never allow that vigorous parliamentary debate to spill over into violence. People who resort to intimidation and violence cross a line that must never be crossed. The choice to use violence is a rejection of robust debate, a refusal to accommodate difference and disagreement.
The antidote to violence isn’t to compromise our system of robust debate, but to cherish, champion, and strengthen that system. Alleged attack on Haines ‘unfathomable’, Angus Taylor says The opposition leader, Angus Taylor , has thrown his support behind Haines and thanked the locals who offered their help in the moment of the alleged attack. In his address to parliament, he says: double quotation mark Helen Haines epitomises civility, and that’s why the violent [alleged] attack on her seems so unfathomable.
In those horrific moments last Monday, and in the critical hours and days afterwards, one man’s cruelty stood in stark contrast to the courage and decency of so many Australians. Angus Taylor. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP ‘Helen Haines is a fighter’: PM The prime minister says he has regularly spoken with Haines, especially on the issue of rural and regional health: double quotation mark She always engages, always looks you in the eye, and never lets up.
And she always works on the principle that disagreement only truly functions when it doesn’t depart from respect and humanity. Right now, the member for Indi is on the hardest road of all. As we pray for her, we console ourselves with this one solid truth, as Phil, who I’ve spoken to daily, keeps reminding me every day, Helen Haines is a fighter.
As Phil returns to Helen and their family, may he take with him our love, and the love of the nation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives to pay tribute to Independent member for Indi Helen Haines in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, 26 October, 2026. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Australian democracy cannot be conflated with ‘rising tide of rage’, PM says The prime minister, Anthony Albanese , says Australia must not rush to conclusions but also cannot shrug off the “very real rise in anger that distorts and corrodes our public discourse”.
He told the parliament: double quotation mark Enabled by the anonymity and speed afforded by social media, we are seeing rage and aggression increasing, not just in politics, but towards workers in hospitality and retail, in schools and in hospitals, towards police, paramedics, and other officials, we are seeing a normalisation of the language of grievance and violence. We must not conflate the robustness of Australian democracy with this rising tide of rage, we’ve always had disagreement in Australia. It’s part of our story.
Ours is an unbroken democracy, and our continuous system of government shines as a beacon to the world. But we cannot allow disagreement to become a full stop. We keep talking.
Members of the House of Representatives rise in honour of Helen Haines. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images Anthony Albanese spoke with Helen Haines’s husband, Phil Haines , on Monday morning. double quotation mark Phil spoke lovingly of Helen’s superpowers as empathy, kindness, and compassion. He spoke of hope and change, and the need for a gentler, more cohesive path.
I want Phil to know that we are with him and Helen, and with their children and their grandchildren, and will remain with them. Albanese pays tribute to Helen Haines in parliament The prime minister, Anthony Albanese , has offered his support and well wishes for the independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines , after she was allegedly attacked in her electorate last week. He addressed the House of Representatives this morning: double quotation mark The shock from what happened last Monday is like a stone in our hearts.
Haines’ seat has been filled with an orange cockatoo sign as many MPs wear flowers on their lapel in tribute to the MP. double quotation mark We look across to the member for Indi’s place, and despite ourselves, half expect to see a face, like a trick that the heart plays on the mind, if only to grant us a moment’s respite from the truth. Right now, our friend and colleague is in hospital, grievously injured. The shape of her life and her family’s lives changed for ever.
Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Many politicians are wearing orange and white as a tribute to Haines. An orange cockatoo sign has been placed on her seat in the House of Representatives because the symbol is synonymous with Haines.
She explained in 2024 that it came about after volunteers for her predecessor, Cathy McGowan, “were like a flock of cockatoos” with their orange shirts on. Federal Labor flags concern as state support plunges Confidence in Victoria’s Labor government is plunging weeks out from an election, as federal minister Mark Butler expresses concern about the state party’s uphill battle. The health minister conceded on Monday that the 28 November Victorian election would be “a tough one” for Labor, as fresh opinion polls show a 10% negative swing compared with support on election night in 2022.
He told ABC News Breakfast: double quotation mark After 12 years and some of very difficult years for Victoria, particularly through COVID, it’s no surprise that this is going to be an uphill battle for [Victorian premier] Ben Carroll and the Labor team Primary support for Labor has slumped four points to 24% since Carroll ascended as premier in July, according to the latest Newspoll conducted in October and published by The Australian on Monday. Labor’s dive in the polls solidifies opposition leader Jess Wilson’s box seat position to become the next premier, with primary support for the coalition surging to 33%. That represented a lift of 2%, while One Nation’s vote edged one point to 20%.
Labor’s two-party preferred vote has plunged 10% since the 2022 election, according to the Newspoll, placing the Coalition ahead 55–45. – Australian Associated Press MPs to place orange cockatoo sign on Haines’ seat in parliament Sarah Basford Canales Crossbench MPs will honour Helen Haines today by placing an orange cockatoo sign on her seat in parliament as lower house members, including the prime minister, Anthony Albanese , will pay tribute and send well wishes to her this morning. The orange cockatoo is synonymous with Haines. She explained in 2024 that it came about after volunteers for her predecessor, Cathy McGowan , “were like a flock of cockatoos” with their orange shirts on.
Haines wrote: double quotation mark The association and symbolism has grown from there, representing a community flocking together to build a vibrant democracy. Volunteers have crafted cockies out of old yard signs and injected much fun, intrigue and conversation into the independent campaigns of Indi. Haines remains in a serious but stable condition in a Melbourne hospital after she lost both legs following an alleged attack near her electorate office in north-east Victoria a week ago.
The MP’s husband, Phil Haines , provided an update at the Alfred hospital on Wednesday, saying “both her heart and her mind are in good shape”. It’s understood Phil will attend parliament today. Haines was the first federal politician to sign a civility pledge as part of the Compassion in Politics movement to make politics more respectful.
Crossbench MPs will sign the simple pledge and encourage others to do so today. Community members held orange cockatoo signs at a Wodonga vigil for Helen Haines on Wednesday. Photograph: Mridula Amin/The Guardian
Source: The Guardian
