Albanese Abandons Fundraiser After MP Helen Haines Attacked
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke withdrew from a Labor fundraiser after news broke of an attack on independent MP Helen Haines.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cancelled their attendance at a high-priced Labor fundraiser on Monday evening after learning of an attack on independent MP Helen Haines.
Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested at the scene in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon, allegedly striking Haines, 65, twice with his car. Haines sustained critical injuries, including the loss of a leg, and remains in a critical condition following emergency surgery in Melbourne. Counterterrorism authorities are investigating the incident, and no charges have yet been laid.
Albanese was in Sydney, working from government offices before heading to a $2,500-a-head fundraiser at the Wentworth Sofitel hotel. The event, hosted by the Labor Business Forum, was set to feature senior ministers and attract corporate executives, lobbyists, and business leaders. Companies can pay between $33,000 and $121,000 annually to join the forum, with VIP tables costing up to $18,000.
Sources indicate that Albanese and Burke were informed of the attack within 30 minutes of its occurrence. Following briefings from the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and ASIO, a decision was made for both ministers not to attend the fundraiser. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team was subsequently activated, and the alleged offender is understood to have been previously known to authorities.
Albanese appeared visibly shaken when speaking to media about the incident later that evening. Despite the Prime Minister and Burke's absence, several other senior ministers attended the fundraiser, including Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, and Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells.
Many ministers reportedly learned the full extent of the incident involving Haines only after arriving at the venue. The mood inside the room was described as sombre, with attendees distressed by the unfolding news. Organisers eventually shortened the event, cancelling planned speeches and a raffle.
The Labor Business Forum is a significant fundraising tool for the party, generating at least $7 million in the last financial year. The fundraiser had been planned for an extended period, with confirmations of attendance made weeks in advance.