Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police have just given a 30-minute press conference on their investigations into the Helen Haines incident on Monday afternoon.

Here's what we learnt:

• The suspect has been charged with three offences: a Commonwealth charge of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official and two state offences - intentionally causing harm and dangerous driving causing serious injury
• Police says there may be more charges including attempted murder
• Investigators will explore if drug use and medication played a factor in the incident and are yet to unearth a motive
• Police refused to answer any questions about the suspect's mental health and said they were still probing any personal connection the suspect had to Haines
• Almost one person a week is being charged for making threats against "high office holders" and their staff
• Authorities confirmed the suspect and his online profile were not on their radar before the alleged attack
• The "quick and fearless" actions of bystanders was praised by police

The alleged attacker, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, has briefly faced court for the first time in Wangaratta.

He is charged with three offences: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of causing harm to a public official.

The court heard that there would no application for bail today, and that the matter would return to court in February for a committal hearing.

Let's bring you a comment from Australian Federal Police's Krissy Barrett earlier when asked if it is realistic for every federal MP to have their own close protection detail, or personal bodyguard.

"That would be an incredible amount of resourcing," she said.

"We take a threat risk and vulnerability approach - that is our model when we're looking at all 226 federal parliamentarians."

Police assess the individual, the role they are in and the threat environment around them, she says.

The press conference has wrapped up but here's a few comments that Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush made earlier.

On a motive behind the attack, Bush said it was still being investigated.

"Motivation is one of these things that we absolutely need to explore. His motivation for this - what we allege is a deliberate attack - is very much a centrepiece of the investigation," he said.

"Our people will continue to explore every element, angle and avenue to work that out."

"It's something that, when we work towards it, discover it, we will present in court."

He was also asked if the suspect has been cooperating with police and replied: "I can't go into any of those details."

Image source, Victoria Police

Krissy Barrett says a specialist team set up to investigate threats against "high office holders" and their staff is charging almost one person every week.

"By and large they are absolutely shocked that we're at the door and that we're charging them," she said.

"And they say, 'Oh I didn't mean anything by it, I actually wasn't going to carry out the threat. It doesn't matter, it is an offence... and it does do damage."

She says the AFP is focused on making sure those who are making threats from behind a keyboard know there are "serious consequences".

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer reporting from Wangaratta

A police “paddy wagon” carrying Brendan Nugent to court pulled into the building a few minutes ago. The 43-year-old was not visible from beyond the court gates.

Barrett confirms the suspect wasn't on their radar before the incident when asked if the AFP were aware of any possible threat from him.

She also confirms the AFP had "no intelligence to suggest that there was any threat to MP Haines".

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett is now being asked by media if the suspect's "potent political views" that were posted online had come to her staff's attention.

"We didn't have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as has happened on Monday afternoon," she says.

"We absolutely do proactively use online capabilities to gather intelligence."

She says one of her priorities as commissioner is to explore how the AFP can "better utilise technology" to track such online behaviour and that she has spoken with big tech companies on how they can help.

Mike Bush is asked about the alleged attacker's mental state - but says he can't talk about that as the matter is now before the court.

"Any health conditions that he may have had or has is not a matter for me to speak to at this present point in time," he responds.

He says detectives are also looking into whether there was a personal connection between Haines and Brendan Nugent, after a statement from his father said he and his partner had known the MP for more than 20 years.

"At this point, we don't understand there's any direct personal contact previously. But, we're not ruling that out either."

Bush is stressing police are keeping an open mind as the investigation is in its early stages. They're looking into a range of angles, he says.

Asked if police will look at whether drug use or medication was a factor, Bush says they will investigate those avenues.

"That again will form very much part of the investigation," Bush says.

He repeats what he said earlier about police arriving on the scene within eight seconds and how they "did conduct some testing".

Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush is now taking questions from the media and is asked if there will be other charges to come.

He says police are considering an attempted murder charge against the suspect.

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer reporting from Wangaratta

We’ve just heard Brendan Nugent is expected to appear in court in person this morning.

The case has been scheduled for 10am local time in front of a magistrate.

The update from the court mentions the intense media interest - as evidenced by the twenty or so camera crews, photographers and journalists lingering at the back of Wangaratta Magistrates Court waiting for Nugent’s arrival.

Image source, BBC: Simon Atkinson

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said while the "full motivations" of the alleged offender are subject to continued investigation, this incident is something "many have been dreading for some time".

She said MPs have been increasingly concerned about threats towards them and their staff, concerns shared by many in the wider community.

The threats are driven by a convergence of "personal grievance", "mental health vulnerabilities" and ideological motivations, she added.

"I hope this terrible event... gives our country time to pause and reflect on the growing threats and unlawful behaviour against those who hold a Commonwealth Office in Australia," Barrett said.

Bush says the suspect will face three charges.

One is a Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth official.

The other two are state offences:

• intentionally causing serious harm
• dangerous driving causing serious injury

"While this investigation is far from complete we are not ruling out further serious charges," Bush says.

"There was nothing known to us that would have... given any indication that he was an immediate threat."

Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush has started by thanking those who came to Helen Haines' aid on Monday.

He praised the "quick and fearless" actions of bystanders, police who arrived on the "traumatic" scene within eight seconds, and paramedics and doctors who have been working hard to save Haines' life since.

Katy Watson
Australia correspondent reporting from Wangaratta

Overnight, more flowers have been left outside Helen Haines’ office, a focal point yesterday after what happened.

But today the focus moves to Wangaratta’s court house which is around the corner from Helen Haines’ office - not even a one minute walk - this town is small.

Outside the Art Deco building, journalists are waiting on the steps for the court to open, reporters are getting ready to go on air, such is the interest in this story.

The suspect is facing three charges and he’s due here shortly for his first court appearance.

As we wait to hear from the police this morning, here’s the latest that we know:

• On Monday at around 3.35pm, local time, Helen Haines was struck by a white Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta in regional Victoria
• She remains in a critical condition at a Melbourne hospital where she underwent surgery and has reportedly lost one of her legs.
• The alleged driver of the car, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene and police have now charged him with three offences - dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official
• Police say they will allege the incident was targeted
• Nugent, 43, is from the nearby town of Tarrawingee and was well-known in the community as an environmental campaigner
• Nugent's family released a statement yesterday, saying that they were long-time friends of Haines and that the apparent attack was "devastating and unfathomable"
• Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the incident was a "deliberate act"

Image source, Getty Images

We're expecting to hear from the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police any minute now.

Stay with us as we bring you those updates.

Haines, a former nurse and midwife, is the independent federal MP for Indi in regional Victoria.

She was first elected in 2019 and has since gained a reputation as a politician of integrity and is well regarded by her colleagues.

The 65-year-old has been described as a “beacon of light” by Australia’s prime minister and a fellow independent MP Allegra Spender praised Haines as the person she turns to "when I have an ethical dilemma".

In 2021, Haines proposed laws for a national anti-corruption watchdog and has been credited for driving the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission under Labor in the previous parliamentary term.

Image source, Getty Images

It’s been less than 48 hours since Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her electorate office, which police say was driven by a 43-year-old man from a nearby town.

Here’s what we’ll be keeping across today:

• Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police will give an update in about 10 minutes on their investigations into Monday’s incident
• The man arrested at the scene, named by local media as Brendan Nugent, is expected to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court after being charged last night with three offences. Our reporters are at the court and will bring you updates

• Haines, 65, remains in a critical condition at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. She had surgery hours after the incident and reportedly lost a leg due to her injuries – the hospital is expected to share another update on her condition this afternoon.