The PM was minutes away from headlining a $2,500-a-head Labor fundraiser when everything changed: Inside Albanese’s evening scramble as news of Helen Haines attack emerged
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke pulled out of a high-priced Labor fundraiser at the last minute on Monday night after news broke that independent MP Helen Haines had been attacked outside her electorate office.
Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested at the scene in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon after he allegedly twice struck Haines, 65, with his car – leaving her fighting for life and losing her leg.
Haines remains in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery in Melbourne overnight. No charges had been laid as counterterrorism authorities continue to investigate the incident.
Albanese was in Sydney on Monday evening, working from the government’s offices on Bligh St, ahead of a $2,500-a-head fundraiser, headlined by the PM and senior ministers, at the city’s Wentworth Sofitel hotel.
The Labor ministry were set to be feted by corporate executives, lobbyists and business leaders at the event hosted by the Labor Business Forum, the ALP’s business networking and fundraising wing.
Companies pay between $33,000 and $121,000 annually to join the forum before spending thousands more on exclusive access to senior government figures at private events and dinners. A VIP table of eight cost as much as $18,000.
The event was due to begin at 6pm, with MPs arriving between 5pm and 6pm.
Daily Mail understands Albanese and Burke were alerted to the incident within 30 minutes of it unfolding.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) arriving the Labor fundraiser on Monday night
Julian Hill (left) and Tanya Plibersek (right) riding the escalator into the Wentworth Sofitel
Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells (pictured) was in attendance at the event
Rather than attend the event, both men remained in their ministerial offices as further details emerged about Haines’ condition and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
After receiving briefings from the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO, a decision was made for neither the Prime Minister nor Burke to attend.
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team was activated shortly afterwards, with the alleged offender understood to have been previously known to authorities.
The incident appeared to weigh heavily on Albanese, who looked visibly shaken during a subsequent press conference at 7pm, and in an interview with the ABC.
Despite Albanese and Burke’s absence, a number of senior ministers still attended the fundraiser.
Among them were Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells, Skills and Training Minister Tim Ayres, Aged Care Minister Sam Rae and Cabinet Secretary Andrew Charlton.
The event also drew Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino, Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil, Environment Minister Murray Watt, Resources Minister Madeleine King and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh.
Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh, Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite and Assistant Minister for Immigration Julian Hill were also in attendance.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles (pictured) arriving to the dinner
Environment Minister Murray Watt (pictured) arriving to the Labor Business Network event
Albanese (right) and Burke (left) both looked visibly shaken when speaking to media
Daily Mail understands that many ministers only became aware of the extent of the incident involving Haines after arriving at the venue.
Influential Labor powerbroker and lobbyist Eamonn Fitzpatrick was among those spotted at the event.
Other attendees included a mix of industry lobbyists, business leaders and corporate representatives.
Several ministers were seen leaving the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices and crossing the road to the Wentworth shortly before the function began.
Attendees described the mood inside the room as sombre, with many distressed by the news as it started to become public.
Organisers ultimately cut the evening short, scrapping planned speeches and cancelling a scheduled raffle.
Labor’s fundraiser was planned well in advance, with guests expected to have confirmed their attendance weeks earlier, some as far back as mid-September.
The Federal Labor Business Forum generated at least $7million for Labor in the last financial year, and has been the party’s largest fundraising tool outside of the Trade Union movement.
