Labor politician Ed Husic is stepping away from parliamentary duties after he was injured in a serious crash when a truck slammed into his car.
The Chifley MP was travelling home after conducting mobile office visits across his electorate when the accident occurred on Sydney‘s M7 at 6.20pm on Tuesday.
Husic’s office released a statement revealing that a truck crashed into the back of the politician’s vehicle and ‘slightly to the right of the driver’s side while travelling at approximately 80km/h’.
Emergency services treated Husic at the scene before rushing him to hospital for further assessment and treatment.
Husic suffered ‘minor abrasions, fractures and a concussion’.
He spent the night in hospital and was discharged on Wednesday morning.
Despite the seriousness of the collision, Husic’s office said the Labor MP was not responsible.
‘Mr Husic was not at fault in the accident and is providing a statement to police,’ the statement read.
Ed Husic (pictured) is set to step away from Parliamentary duties following a truck crash
An image of the vehicle driven by Ed Husic following the crash on the M7 on Tuesday
‘On medical advice, Mr Husic will take a short period of leave from parliamentary duties while he recovers.
‘Mr Husic was extremely grateful to walk away from the accident without more serious injury.’
Husic’s office will continue to offer services to constituents during his absence.
The incident follows a high-profile period for Husic, who has long been one of Labor’s most outspoken voices on the conflict in Gaza.
Last month, he put pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after calling on the party’s national conference in Adelaide to adopt a stronger stance and recognise what he described as genocide against Palestinians.
Ultimately, Labor party delegates backed a motion broadly reflecting the Albanese Government’s existing position on Israel, Palestine and Hamas, rather than adopting the stronger language advocated by some party members and Husic.
Husic said he did not ‘give a s***’ about any backlash from Labor powerbrokers who sought to limit debate on the issue, arguing concerns about party unity should not come at the expense of open discussion.
He said he was committed to remaining in the party despite the setback.
Ed Husic suffered ‘minor abrasions, fractures and a concussion’ as a result of the crash
Last month, Husic put pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after calling on the party’s national conference in Adelaide to adopt a stronger stance and recognise what he described as genocide against Palestinians
‘Sometimes you’ll be at the front and on your own, and suddenly find you’ve got a lot of people around you,’ he said.
‘It might take some time to get there. Change sometimes involves difficult conversations to bring people together.’
Husic added that not being able to debate the draft position placed in the policy platform was unhealthy for the party.
Husic will miss the first Parliamentary sitting since the Labor conference, with MPs returning to Canberra on Tuesday for the Spring session.