BY ANDREW BOLT
The attack on Helen Haines is so shocking. The reaction to it by too many politicians, activists and journalists just makes it worse. Talk about opportunists.
All we really know so far is that Haines, a gentle independent politician, was mown down by a car driven – allegedly – by Brendan Nugent.
Nugent – again, allegedly – drove into Haines at least twice before passers-by ran to her rescue.
They say Nugent seemed out of his head, affected by drink, drugs or mental illness, which is why police couldn’t interview him that night.
Nugent’s lawyers confirm he has a neurological condition. His neighbours add he’d become aggressive and possibly schizophrenic, and used marijuana for chronic pain. Nugent posted he was on a disability pension and broke.
Yet count the agendas already slapped on to this wreck of a man and this tragic assault that’s cost Haines at least one of her legs.
We must control social media
“There’s no question that social media is a part of” the threats against politicians, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, now pushing his Digital Duty of Care Bill to control the internet. “There are no consequences for what goes on online platforms,” added Victoria’s Premier, Ben Carroll.
But where’s the evidence that the internet inspired Nugent to – allegedly – drive into Haines?
One Nation is a menace
“Does One Nation play a role in amplifying dangerous rhetoric,” wondered ABC host Rafael Epstein.
One Nation’s rhetoric “can be dangerous”, said Carroll. “It has to stop, particularly the disparaging and hateful rhetoric from fringe parties like One Nation,” raged Labor MP Mike Freelander.
But Nugent hated One Nation and is a global warming crusader. Why would he drive into a politician opposed to One Nation policies and demanding action on global warming?
“It has to stop, particularly the disparaging and hateful rhetoric from fringe parties like One Nation,” raged Labor MP Mike Freelander.
But Nugent hates One Nation and is a global warming crusader. Why would he drive into a politician oppossed to One Nation policies and demanding action on climate?
The Left is dangerous
“Australia needs a royal commission into far-Left extremism,” insisted the Right-wing Rebel News.
True, Nugent was a pro-Palestine hater of Israel, an anti-logger and a follower of multiple green sites. But why would a Leftist drive his car into a politician allied to soft-Left Teal independents?
Political debate is too heated
We must “turn the temperature down”, said Albanese. We have “hate and disrespect and intolerance in our political debate that we never really used to see,” claims Health Minister Mark Butler.
But is it true that Nugent – possibly disturbed, perhaps drugged, maybe schizophrenic, poor and in pain – tuned into debates between politicians and decided as a result to run down one of the least offensive, most polite and most widely liked politicians?
And is it true that political debate has become more toxic, and must be tamed?
Our second-longest-serving prime minister, John Howard, doubts it: “We should not jump too quickly to compare civility of political debate at various times.”
Howard has seen Labor’s savage reaction when Gough Whitlam was sacked as prime minister and branded Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser as “Kerr’s cur”. Howard even wore a bulletproof vest in public meetings as he pushed for gun control.
And the big question: is it a coincidence that politicians shouting loudest for a kinder debate are those under justified fire for making us poorer and more divided by their catastrophic mismanagement?
Premier Carroll – head of a state government with a staggering debt and headed for election defeat – reacted to the attack on Haines by ludicrously telling voters to “be mindful of any rhetoric that is broadcasting that government is a failure”.
Albanese – overseeing deadly division, a fall in Australia’s living standards and a record low in the polls – asked for people “to have their say and to do so in a way, though, that doesn’t create tension and in a way that is respectful”.
Yet this same Albanese tried to divide Australians by race with his Aboriginal-only Voice to Parliament, shopped a dirt-file on Haines and showed his respect for opponents by calling Hanson “disgraceful’, “divisive”, “spiteful,” and “nasty”, while ministers abused her as “racist”.
Agreed: we need more civility in politics, less Leftist violence, less social media rage and a kinder culture.
But does Nugent prove any of that? Does this broke and possibly unstable disability pensioner using schizophrenia-inducing drugs prove anything other than that there are always some people twisted out of shape?
Sure, fight for a kinder society. Let that be our way of making something good of this horrific attack on a good woman.
But do not be shamed out of a vigorous debate, the heartbeat of democracy and our surest way to the truth.
“Keep your politics out of this tragedy,” Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun, Thursday, October 22, 2026, p.27.
VicNews does not support Bolt’s viewpoints and the article is republished in the public interest.
