Husband of critically injured MP Helen Haines says she is a 'fighter'

The husband of critically injured MP Helen Haines has spoken publicly for the first time since Monday's attack on his wife, confirming her second leg had been amputated due to her injuries.

Joined by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Phil Haines said his wife's recovery would be "long and difficult" after she was struck by a car outside her Wangaratta electorate office in Victoria's north-east.

"But we know she is a fighter, she is a determined person to do her best, with our support and love, to recover," he said. "And that is what we hope for."

Mr Haines became emotional during his address at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne, where doctors are working to save his 65-year-old wife from critical injuries.

"What took place on Monday was a horrendous incident, and as you know, it's caused Helen significant injuries," Mr Haines said. "As a result of that, Helen's left leg was amputated on Monday."

"We had been hoping her right leg would be saved, but as of this afternoon or this morning, the surgeons also had to remove her right leg."

Mr Haines, a farmer and agricultural scientist, married Ms Haines in 1986 and the couple are set to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next month.

"Her heart is huge — she is a very compassionate, caring, loving person, incredibly supportive of all around her," he said of his wife. "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."

Governor General Sam Mostyn has urged Australians to follow Helen Haines's example by conducting political debate with greater civility.

"We don't have to all agree, but we can wrestle the issue, not the person," Ms Mostyn said. "Words matter, whether spoken or in written form, increasingly in the virtual world."

Former independent MP Cathy McGowan represented the seat of Indi before Ms Haines, breaking the Coalition's 82-year hold on the seat in 2013.

Speaking to Fran Kelly on Radio National Hour, she called on Australians to be the best version of themselves ahead of the Victorian state election in six weeks.

"Let's take Helen's legacy of being our best selves, of being transparent and open and honest, but good to this election," she says. "And let's just see if we can't, from a community like Indi, really be the change we want to see."

"Call out bad behaviour, stop the violence."

Locals still grappling with the attack on Helen Haines are gathering for a vigil in Wodonga tonight.

Ms McGowan said she hoped the orange cockatoos worn by supporters of the beloved Indi MP could symbolise a community moving forward.

"We've got a lot of cockatoos flying around and they come together in groups and they make a lot noise, but they're very supportive of each other as flocks," she said. "That's our symbol tonight of us coming together as a community … We're not going to let violence win."