Australian prime minister says lawmaker critically injured by car is 'no accident'

A car hit an Australian federal independent lawmaker on Monday, critically injuring her in an apparent deliberate attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. The driver was arrested.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7407x4897+0+0/resize/7407x4897!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0a%2F8f%2F9597ae5d4a8da98c93d208aecd8d%2Fap26292313653500.jpg' alt='Australian independent member of parliament Helen Haines speaks to journalists in the Press Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.'/><p>A car hit an Australian federal independent lawmaker on Monday, critically injuring her in an apparent deliberate attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. The driver was arrested.</p><p>(Image credit: Mick Tsikas)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-148737' />