On Monday, 26 October the Australian Parliament spent the day of proceedings to recognise and support Dr Helen Haines, the federal Member for Indi who suffered shocking injuries one week earlier outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.

Helen Haines is universally recognised across party-lines and independents in Parliament as a warm, intelligent and gracious person who represents her electorate and the issues she is passionate about with the utmost integrity, intelligence and grace.

Husband Phil left Helen’s side and made the journey to Canberra on Monday, 26th to speak to the PM and all Members and Senators to provide an update on Helen’s condition and to personally thank them for their support.

He has displayed incredible fortitude and resilience in what must be one of the worst moments of their shared lives.

We Ride Australia is devastated that Helen has suffered catastrophic injuries while simply representing the people who elected her. We have conveyed our love and support to her office and Chief of Staff, Karen Rourke.

Since entering Parliament, Helen has been instrumental in helping We Ride Australia establish and conduct the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling group.

First with her Co-Chairs, Hon. Dr Andrew Leigh MP the Member for Fenner and Dave Sharma MP (now Senator for NSW), and in the current Parliament with her Co-Chairs, Zaneta Mascarenhas, the Member for Swan and the Hon. Andrew Wallace, the Member for Fisher.

Her counsel and support for the work WeRide does in bringing cycling issues to the heart of Parliament has been invaluable, culminating in our very successful advocacy for the 2026 Budget commitment of $500 million for the Active Transport Fund.

We wish Helen a comprehensive recovery and send our warmest regards to her, her family, colleagues and friends.

Stephen and Peter

* Hansard link: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/29191/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2026_10_26.pdf

Photo – Andrew Taylor