While Albanese said it was too early to perceive the motive behind what had occurred, he did say the political temperature had been rising in Australia.
His Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke backed up that assertion with figures displaying that reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the previous yr.
Haines was hit by a white Toyota Landcruiser at 15:35 (04:35 GMT) outside her workplace on Murphy Street in Wangaratta, police say.
The city, which has a population of around 30,000, is a few hours north-east of Melbourne.
A witness advised Australian broadcaster ABC they had heard a bang and seen a girl pinned between two vehicles, exterior.
Haines was initially taken to a hospital in Wangaratta but later moved to Melbourne by helicopter.
After being subdued and detained by the passersby, the suspect was arrested by police.
Announcing that counter terror police were concerned in the investigation, the prime minister said: “This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.”
In a assertion, Victoria Police said: “At this stage, police are investigating as to whether this was an intentional act.
“It is not identified yet if the events are identified to each other… The investigation stays ongoing.”
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