Man charged over alleged vehicle attack on Australian MP Helen Haines

A 43-year-old man has been charged over an alleged vehicle attack that left independent MP for Indi Helen Haines critically injured outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.

Victoria Police named the alleged attacker as Brendan Nugent, from Tarrawingee, and said he was arrested on Monday afternoon. He will be held overnight to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, according to The Guardian.

Nugent has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

Police said they would allege the incident was targeted. They said Nugent allegedly struck Haines with a Toyota LandCruiser outside the office in Wangaratta on Monday.

Nugent, 43, has been described as an environmental campaigner in Wangaratta with an interest in local anti-logging campaigning, according to BBC.

Haines was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for emergency surgery. She was in critical but stable condition. She has lost one leg and surgeons were working on Tuesday to save the other leg.

A Victoria Police highway patrol officer responded eight seconds after emergency services were called. Police executed a search warrant at Nugent's property on Great Alpine Road.