We're going to wrap up our live coverage of the aftermath of the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday. Thank you for joining.
Here's a recap of today's developments:
Governor-General Sam Mostyn said the country must come together and support each other.
"What does a nation do now?" she asked.
"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, who are still trying to cope with this."
"We need to offer everyone comfort to get through this, to celebrate our strong and stable system of government and parliaments and democracy, and be proud of that."
She encouraged Australians to remind themselves, as Helen said all the time, that they "have good hearts".
"Australians are yearning for kindness and care, and they're asking us why we lost the great skill of disagreeing well and with decency to each other," she said.
"Our democracy, the great Australian democracy, has always relied on passionate and robust debate.
"It's a healthy and vital part of a modern and successful nation, and Helen plays a huge role in that in representing her community."
She said not everyone had to agree, but she encouraged people to "wrestle the issue", not the person.
"It's important to remember, words matter, whether spoken or in written form, or increasingly in the virtual world," she said.
"In the midst of what is a disturbing and distressing moment, particularly for Helen's family and her friends and her team, everyone who loves her, let's work together as a healing force."
Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who was invited by Phil Haines to speak, said Australia was "reeling with the shock and distress of this terrible attack on our much loved member for Indi".
"I know that here in Victoria, in particular, people are simply dumbfounded and finding it very hard to fathom the scale of this tragedy," she said.
"One must remember when we speak of the terrible behaviour of one person with such catastrophic consequences, we must weigh that against the many thousands of Australians who have shown such care and love for Helen and her family in the last two days," she said.
"Now, this violent attack on a much loved and respected sitting member of our federal parliament must be a moment for us to pause and to choose to be better."
She said she is speaking not just as governor-general, but also as Helen's friend.
The pair had recently spoken about the need for greater civility and engagement in public life.
"As ever, Helen was actively thinking of ways in which the Australian community could come together and be encouraged to be both more engaged in our democracy, in our great democracy, and participate with the kind of engagement she has always done-kindness and care and respect," she said.
She said she had been providing regular updates to King Charles about Helen's condition.
Phil encouraged those who wanted to help to make a donation to Save the Children.
"Flowers are a beautiful thing, and Helen loves flowers ... but it's a bit difficult to look after many bunches of flowers," he said.
"So we will ask people if they would like to support Helen financially to make a donation to Save the Children Fund.
"She is a passionate supporter of them, so we asked people if they would like to support Helen to perhaps think about making a donation through that organisation, and you can find the link to that on Helen's website."
While the incident had been horrendous, Phil said Helen and his family had been overwhelmed by the level of support they had been shown.
"One thing I've learnt the last two days, reinforced by many people, is to take things day by day. I know it's a cliché, but it's a cliché for very good reason. So I thank you all for being here. I thank you for listening, and please keep sending Helen your love."
Phil Haines said his wife's road to recovery would be long and difficult, but she was a fighter.
"The two most important parts of Helen for us as a family, her heart and her mind," he said.
"Her heart is huge. She is a very compassionate, caring, loving person, incredibly supportive of all around her, her family, her community, anybody she comes across, and her mind.
"She has the sharpest intellect. She has always had the most intense desire to learn, to read, to synthesise, and to understand what's going on.
"We are grateful and thankful that at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape."
He thanked first responders and medical staff who had treated her, as well as the wider Wangaratta community, which had displayed an outpouring of grief and support.
"Across the nation and internationally, we have had thousands upon thousands of messages of love and support," he said.
"I can only say how much a difference that makes to all of us. So I thank all those people for what they are doing, and I ask them to continue to do it."
The husband of Helen Haines , Phil Haines , is providing an update from The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.
He confirmed Haines' second leg had been amputated, despite the best efforts of doctors.
"What took place on Monday was an horrendous incident, and it's, as you know, caused Helen significant injuries," he said.
"As a result of that, Helen's left leg was amputated on Monday. We had been hoping that her right leg would be saved, but as of this afternoon and this morning, the surgeons had to also remove her right leg.
"But the good news in all this is Helen is alive, and she's stable. That is the most important thing for our family."
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is addressing the media in Melbourne, saying extra resourcing and arrangements would be put in place for next month's state election.
"The [Victorian Electoral Commission], Victoria Police, and all political parties take the safety of this election very seriously. We are all working together to ensure the safety of all Victorians over the coming election period," he said.
"What has happened must be a turning point for political debate in Victoria and around Australia. We must go forward with more respect and understanding of one another."
In case you missed it, Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett addressed the media at a press conference this morning.
She said the AFP had no forewarning about any imminent threat to Haines, in response to a question raised about Nugent's previous social media posts.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Liberal MP Angie Bell has released a statement, saying comments she made about Small Business Minister Anne Aly and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were "regrettable".
In parliament last week, she said Aly and Albanese should be "shamed and stoned in the square" over the Australian Tax Office's decision to ban credit card payments (which it has pushed back).
Aly condemned the comments as "racist" and "misogynistic". Bell subsequently withdrew the comments.
On Wednesday, Bell issued a statement saying, "My thoughts are first and foremost with my friend Helen Haines and her family. This is a shocking attack on an outstanding MP who works diligently for her community."
"My regrettable comment last week was a poor choice of words in the context of the challenges facing small businesses. It was not helpful or planned, which is why I immediately withdrew it and attempted to rectify this with Dr Aly.
"While the motive for this horrific attack on Helen is not yet clear, there is absolutely no place for political violence in Australia. Australians must be free to disagree passionately, but there is no justification for threats or violence."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declined to explain a briefing document about Helen Haines that was circulated to select media weeks before she was allegedly attacked.
In September, the prime minister's office briefed select media outlets, including the Australian Associated Press, on federal funding Haines applied for under a community grants program.
It followed Haines accusing the government of "pork-barrelling" as the vast majority of grants from the $560 million pool went to Labor seats.
Labor sources at the time called the criticism hypocritical. In the days since the alleged attack, Albanese has repeatedly called Haines a "thoroughly decent person".
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he did not have knowledge of the document.
"I don't think it's about pointing fingers. I think what it is about is all of us taking responsibility for the way in which we engage in public discourse," he told Nine's Today show.
Albanese did not deny the existence of the briefing document when asked but declined to explain further.
"Helen Haines is a strong advocate for her community, and she advocates for funding," he told News24 on Wednesday, when pressed about the document.
Known as "backgrounding", it's commonplace for information to be given to reporters by politicians of all stripes.
Helen Haines ' husband Phil Haines will provide an update on his wife's health at 5pm.
He will be joined by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne where Haines is being treated.
We'll bring you details from that update as they come to hand.
A young couple that intervened to help Helen Haines have revealed the injured MP's kind words to them.
Jacob Evans , 22. and Jacklyn Black , 21, were shopping in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon when Haines was attacked.
They rushed to her aid, using a tourniquet from a trauma kit to manage her injuries.
"She was thanking us and calling us beautiful people. And considering the traumatic event that had just occurred, the fact that she was taking the time to say that just shows her character, in my opinion," Black said.
You can read more about their account below:
Tributes for Helen Haines have also been coming in from overseas.
United Kingdom House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he has written to Australian House of Representatives speaker Milton Dick to express the UK parliament's sympathies.
At the start of the sitting day on Tuesday, Hoyle said:
"Before we begin, I know the thoughts of the house today will be with Helen Haines, the member of parliament for Indi in the Australian House of Representatives, who has critically been injured following an incident outside her electoral office," he said.
"The safety and security of elected officials is crucial and must remain a focus for us all."
New Zealand foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said his country was shocked by the incident, and sent its best wishes to her.
"Violence has absolutely no place in politics," he said on social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said politicians must be accessible to the public, despite growing calls for stronger security measures for MPs.
"It has to be the case in my view, very strongly, that we need to be able to attend community events, festivals — we need to be able to go shopping, and to engage with people in the queues of ALDI or Woolies or Coles," he told News24 on Wednesday.
"People do need to go about their business, and people need to be also not wary about running for public office."
At the National Press Club in Canberra, independent senator David Pocock has begun his address to pay tribute to Helen Haines .
Wearing an orange heart lapel pin, a symbol of support for Haines, Pocock said: "To Helen, to Phil, their three kids and the rest of the family, to Helen's team who I understand are watching from Wangaratta and Chiara here today, and to your whole community — we love you.
He said Haines was the MP everyone wished they had, and working with her was "one of the great privileges of serving in our parliament".
"My volunteers love hosting yours when they come to Canberra," he said.
"And I have loved spending time with you and Phil in Indi over the last few years.
"You are a beacon of integrity. You make our politics better."
Pocock said it was "unfathomable" that would anyone would try to deliberately hurt her.
"And I know I speak for so many people when I say that we are sending you love and hoping your recovery is as quick and thorough as possible," he said.
"We must meet this attack on you by doubling down on the values you represent, that you champion so hard in our parliament.
"Democracy. Transparency. Accountability. Care. Kindness.
"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."
Jacquie appeared to be the lone supporter of Brendan Nugent , who came to court with the hope of seeing him.
She is his former arts teacher at Moyhu Primary School and made visits to him for a few weeks at the nearby Kerford Unit mental health inpatient service unit more than two years ago.
The 68-year-old said she was "mortified" when she heard Nugent was arrested.
When asked by SBS how she feels being the only supporter at court, she became emotional:
"It must be a terrible thing for somebody to feel that they have no support.
"Lots of people are looking after that side of the story. It has a lot of community support, and I just feel you know that I should be able to do that for somebody on that side to provide support and recognition as a human."
Jacquie worked on Haines’ federal election campaign in both 2019 and 2022, and made clear she was horrified by the alleged acts against her. She says she wishes her and her family a swift recovery.
If you are just joining our live coverage of the aftermath of an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines , here's a recap of today's developments.
If you find this story distressing, help is available.
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at beyondblue.org.au . Embrace Multicultural Mental Health supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Meanwhile in Canberra, Australia's domestic spy agency is giving evidence to a parliamentary committee investigating radicalisation.
Deputy director-general of intelligence service delivery at ASIO Claire McGuinness warns that in general, acts of political violence are becoming more likely.
She says her remarks are meant in a general sense, not specific to the alleged attack on Helen Haines .
She has outlined an example of a young person who starts scrolling through Instagram or TikTok and pauses on something that might be a "political meme" or "religiously conservative video".
She said the algorithm then takes over and "the feed tightens".
She says online content can gradually shift users from conservative viewpoints to increasingly radical material, culminating in exposure to manifestos and violence.
"Next they might buy a large knife, inscribing it with symbols that give a sense of identity and purpose."
She says ASIO has seen people enter de-radicalisation programs, only to be drawn back into the cycle after leaving.
"What once took months or years of in-person contact can now occur within days and weeks," she told the committee.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Mike Bush said earlier there was no evidence that Nugent was linked to the sovereign citizen movement, but police had not ruled it out.
The sovereign citizen movement is a broad term used to describe a loose network of anti-government activists and conspiracy theorists.
Adherents don't necessarily share all the same views but common beliefs include that democratic governments are illegitimate and that laws do not apply to them.
The movement gained greater prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when some supporters became involved in protests against lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
Dezi Freeman , who shot dead two police officers in rural Victoria last year , has been described as a sovereign citizen.
The AFP has warned the movement poses a growing risk of violence, fixation, and harassment.
Court documents released to the media reveal Brendan Nugent is facing two additional charges of cultivating and possessing cannabis.
The location of the alleged drug offences was Tarrawingee, close to Wangaratta where Nugent lived.
The date was listed as Tuesday, which is when police conducted a search of his home.
He is also charged with dangerous driving, intentionally causing serious injury and a federal offence of causing harm to a public official.
Police earlier today said they had not ruled out bringing further charges.
