Australian MP Helen Haines' husband, Phil Haines, has given an update on her condition following an alleged attack outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria earlier this week that left her critically injured. Earlier today, her suspected attacker Brendan Nugent appeared in court for the first time where he was formally charged.

Here is a recap of the day's events:

• Phil Haines says his wife has had to have both legs amputated but that the "good news" is that she is "alive and stable"

• Nugent appeared in court this morning, but he stayed silent and did not show any emotion
• Nugent has been charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official
• He also faces additional charges of cultivating and possessing cannabis, court documents show
• His "full motivations" are still under investigation, said the police

• The mood in Wangaratta is sombre, and many have left flowers outside Helen Haines's office
• Local media report that in the seconds after she was hit by the car, Haines was thanking those who had rushed over to help her

• The alleged attack has thrown the protection of MPs into the spotlight
• It has also prompted the family of murdered UK MP Jo Cox to urge Australia to unite against political violence

We're pausing our live coverage now. Thank you for joining us. Read more about the story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Helen Haines is a 65-year-old independent MP for the Indi division in Victoria, south-eastern Australia.

She grew up in the south-west of Victoria on a dairy farm with four brothers before training as a nurse and a midwife.

She became the matron of the Chiltern Bush Nursing Hospital in Victoria when she was 26, before completing a master's degree and PhD while raising her three children and working, according to her website.

She was first elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022 and 2025.

As a lawmaker, she has championed climate action and better working conditions for healthcare professionals.

Fellow independent MP Zali Steggall, who sits next to Haines in federal parliament, described her as "deeply loved and respected". Haines had recently become a grandmother and would share pictures of her baby grandchildren, Steggall said.

Haines lives with her family on a small cattle farm outside Wangaratta.

Simon Atkinson
Reporting from Wangaratta

Image source, BBC/Simon Atkinson

The orange cockatoo logos which are now displayed outside Helen Haines' office are a symbol of her election campaign.

Her fortnightly newsletter is also called the Indi Cockatoo.

Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn has spoken in the same press conference as Phil Haines.

"This violent attack... must be a moment for us to pause, and to choose to be better," she says.

"We should do what I imagine Helen would be doing if she was not the victim of this terrible attack - reaching out to those who are terribly distressed by what has happened... to celebrate our strong and stable system of government and parliament and democracy, and be proud of that," she says.

"Most importantly, that we learn or re-learn to exercise our muscle of decency," she adds.

These are the main takeaways from the update by Phil Haines, the husband of Australian MP Helen Haines:

• The lawmaker has lost both her legs after the alleged attack
• But the good news is that she is alive, and "both her heart and her mind are in good shape", he says
• Helen Haines' road to recovery will be "long and difficult", but "she's a fighter", he says
• He thanked hospital staff and people, both in Australia and internationally, who have shown their concern for his wife
• He urges people who want to support Helen to make a donation to the Save the Children fund. "Please keep sending Helen your love," he says

Image source, Reuters

This was a "horrendous thing for our family, but we're very loving, very supportive", Phil Haines says.

He also urged people who want to send Helen flowers or support her financially to instead make a donation to the Save the Children fund.

"Please keep sending Helen your love, and our family as well" he says, adding that he has been advised by people to "take things day by day".

Phil Haines has made his speech in a composed manner, flashing a smile at some points. But as he wraps things up, he looks emotional, appearing to choke up as he said a brief "thank you", before stepping away from the microphones.

Phil Haines goes on to thank the "many people who have been incredibly supportive" of their family in the last two days.

He thanks Haines' office staff who were first on the scene, first responders, police, paramedics, and hospital staff who treated her.

"I also want to thank the community, and across the nation, and internationally" for sending their love and support, he says.

"Helen's road to recovery will be long and difficult, but we know she is a fighter," Phil Haines says.

"She is a determined person who will do her best, with our support and love, to recover. And that is what we hope for."

"The good news in all this is that she's alive. That is the most important thing for our family," Phil Haines continues.

He says the "two most important parts of Helen" are "her heart and her mind".

He describes her as a "compassionate, caring, loving person" and with the "sharpest intellect".

"We are grateful and thankful that at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape."

"But the good news is that Helen is alive and stable," Phil Haines continues.

"That's the most important thing for our family," he adds.

After the "horrendous incident" that left Helen Haines with significant injuries, her left leg was amputated, Phil Haines says. As of this morning, her right leg has had to be amputated as well, he adds.

A press conference by Helen Haines' husband, Phil, has begun. We'll bring you updates on this shortly.

Helen Haines's supporters continue to bring flowers at the doorstep of electoral office in Wangaratta, as she recovers from an alleged attack earlier this week.

Image source, BBC/Simon Atkinson

Image source, BBC Simon Atkinson

We've just heard from the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where Helen Haines is being treated, and which says that her husband will give an update on her health at 5pm - that's about an hour's time.

Phil Haines will be joined by Sam Mostyn, Australia's governor-general, the hospital says.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.

Brendan Nugent has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

Image source, Getty Images

David Pocock, an independent senator for the Australian Capital Territory and a colleague of Haines, has said that working with her is "one of the great privileges of serving in our parliament".

The two recently worked on a petition to support students in allied health fields.

Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra a while ago, Pocock said the alleged attack on Haines was "unfathomable".

"We must meet this attack on you by doubling down on the values you represent: democracy, transparency, accountability, care, and kindness," he said.

"Now is the time to think about what brings us together, to defend our shared values, our democracy, and our freedom to live as Australians."

The alleged attack happened outside Helen Haines's electorate office in Wangaratta, a city of about 30,000 people.

Police said she was hit on Murphy Street at about 15:35 local time (05:35 BST) on Monday.

Here is what else we know about the incident.

A Wangaratta local barber was among a group of by-standers who were first on the scene and detained the driver of the car that hit Helen Haines.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Carroll, the Premier of Victoria, has said in a statement that what happened to Haines raised fears that Australia was "straying" from its democratic principles.

He said he visited Haines's campaign office a couple of years ago and was struck by "a warmth you rarely ever find in politics".

"Why would you attack someone who has spent her life making things better?" he wrote. "If you care about Australia, and the place we might become, today calls for soul searching."

"And I genuinely fear that we're straying from the principles of our democracy. Respect. Equality. A fair go."

A sketch from Brendan Nugent's brief court appearance has just come through.

Cameras and recording devices are banned in courtrooms in Victoria unless special permission has been granted to film proceedings.

Image source, Reuters