One Nation's Barnaby Joyce raised the matter of what he characterised as a "dirt file" compiled by the prime minister's office, voicing concern about Anthony Albanese during the period leading up to independent MP Helen Haines being struck by a vehicle near her north-west Victorian electorate office.

As of Friday morning, Dr Haines was listed in a stable condition at The Alfred hospital, four days after a four-wheel drive vehicle struck her twice outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Both of Dr Haines' legs were removed by medical staff as a result of the incident.

Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged in connection with the incident involving Dr Haines, with counts including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm, and a federal charge under Commonwealth law relating to harm done to a public official. No bail application was lodged, and a committal hearing has been listed for 4 February 2027.

Prior to the attack, a document reportedly circulated by the Prime Minister's office raised questions about Dr Haines' integrity and her work on behalf of local projects. The material, characterised internally as a "dirt file," was not accompanied by any supporting evidence of misconduct. The communication followed Dr Haines raising concerns about a $6 million funding allocation directed at Marrickville Golf Club, a venue linked to Mr Albanese's local area.

In an interview with a broadcast outlet, Mr Albanese neither confirmed nor disputed the file's existence, describing Dr Haines as a capable local representative who had submitted grant applications in the same manner as other members of parliament. He described Dr Haines as someone who puts considerable effort into representing the interests of those in her electorate.

In a Thursday evening television interview, Mr Joyce characterised Mr Albanese's reaction to the dirt file as an inadequate effort to undermine the reputation of a woman he described as thoroughly decent. He described it as deeply unreasonable for Mr Albanese to withhold an apology over the dirt file, adding that those who genuinely believed the public would not see through the matter were the ones whose judgment appeared most questionable — and that such people, in his view, were to be found within the Prime Minister's office.

A Save the Children appeal established in Dr Haines's name has drawn donations totalling upwards of $600,000. By Friday morning, contributions from across Australia had reached $613,000. Dr Haines' husband, Phil, had asked well-wishers to direct donations to Save the Children rather than send flowers, noting that a large number of bouquets would be difficult to manage. Charity chief executive Mat Tinkler said on Thursday that the organisation was moved by the gesture, adding that the funds would go toward supporting vulnerable children through areas such as maternal and child healthcare and early childhood education, and that the family's wish to do something constructive for children in need during a difficult time reflected their generosity.

In the five days leading up to the assault on Dr Haines outside her electorate office, she had put a request to Mr Albanese for additional mental health funding directed at rural communities. According to one broadcast outlet, Dr Haines raised the $2.7 billion disparity in healthcare funding between city and regional areas with Mr Albanese at a crossbench gathering. According to reports, a copy of the Forgotten Health Spend: A Report on the Expenditure Deficit in Rural Australia 2026 was passed from her to him during the exchange.

Mr Albanese's office conveyed to a broadcast outlet that party members retain the freedom to put forward any concerns, with follow-up action taken on those matters.