Phil Haines, husband of MP Helen Haines, confirms she has had to have both legs amputated
He added that the "good news" was that she was "alive and stable"
Haines suffered severe lower body injuries on Monday when she was hit by a car
The man charged over the alleged attack, Brendan Nugent, has briefly faced court. Our correspondent Katy Watson was in the courtroom
Nugent, 43, did not apply for bail. He is due to return to court in February
He has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official
Police have not ruled out additional charges, including attempted murder
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 AtkinsonAustralian 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:
"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:
Image source, Getty ImagesWe'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 ImagesIt’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:
Australian MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after she was hit by a car outside her electoral office on Monday afternoon, the hospital where she is receiving medical care has confirmed in an update this morning.
Police overnight charged a 43-year-old man with the alleged attack on her. He is due to face court shortly, charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of causing harm to a public official.
A pile of floral tributes is growing in the small town of Wangaratta, at the heart of Haines' electorate in regional Victoria, as locals detail their shock at the incident and fellow MPs describe their fear over increasingly heated public discourse.