A man is due to appear in court today over an alleged attack on independent federal MP Helen Haines. The allegation is that he used a four-wheel-drive vehicle to strike Haines, mowing her down. Haines represents an Australian federal electorate and sits in Parliament as an independent. The accused man is facing criminal proceedings arising from the incident. The vehicle attack was the central allegation outlined before the scheduled court appearance. Details about what prompted the confrontation, the extent of Haines’s injuries and any wider charges have not been made public.