An Australian MP is fighting for her life in hospital and has reportedly lost a leg after being deliberately struck by a car outside her electoral office.

Helen Haines, a centrist independent in the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia, was hit by a white Toyota Land Cruiser in Wangaratta at around 3.30pm local time today as she retrieved belongings from the boot of her vehicle.

The 65-year-old mother-of-three was rushed to hospital with 'severe' lower body injuries, with 9News Melbourne reporting that she had lost a leg.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said that a 43-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident and that the country's counter-terror and security services were conducting investigations.

An emotional Mr Albanese told ABC: 'This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.

'We certainly hope for good news about Helen's condition over the next 24 hours.'

Reports suggest that the driver passed Ms Haines before performing a U-turn and crashing into her, pinning her under the car. The motive for the alleged attack is unclear.

A local barber told 7News that he ran over and pulled the driver from the car and wrestled him to the ground.

'We certainly hope for good news about Helen's condition over the next 24 hours.'

A knife was seized from the vehicle and the arrested man will be interviewed later today, Victoria Police said. 

The force is now investigating whether the attack was intentional and added that it is not yet known whether the parties involved knew each other.

But police believe the incident was isolated and that the public face no further threat.  

She was elected as an MP for Victoria in 2019 and previously worked in healthcare before turning to politics.

At a press conference following the incident, Mr Albanese said: 'There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody.

'The Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO are working together on this. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team has been activated, but the motive is not known.'

The PM added that he had spoken with Victoria's state leader Ben Carroll but that it was 'too early' to provide more details.

Mr Albanese said Ms Haines was 'fiercely intelligent, but most importantly... a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across the Parliament and by everyone who comes into contact with her'.

The MP's family praised the 'swift assistance' of bystanders, police and medical workers in a statement following the incident.

They said: 'This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care.'

'We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response.

'Our family, and Helen's staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media. Please keep Helen in your thoughts.'

Australia's home affairs minister Tony Bourke noted that in 2024 there were 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against politicians, but that this number rose to 1,067 in the last year.

He said: 'Our thoughts are all with Helen, her family, her community and her friends.'

Speaking on the ABC's 7.30 show, Mr Albanese reiterated his earlier calls to 'turn the temperature down' in political discourse.

He also said he had spoken with Ms Haines's office, opposition leader Angus Taylor, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

The PM said: 'We don't know what the motivation [for the attack] is.' 

Mr Albanese added that he wasn't aware of any threats made toward Ms Haines in the lead up to the incident.

He also said the joint counter-terrorism force had been activated.

'They'll be checking on the history of the person who is in custody... trying to establish a motivation... they are very professional [and] they have my complete faith,' he said.

Ms Haines's website states: ''Through my work as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, I've cared for people in our community during some of their most important moments.

'I'm not beholden to a political party and call out bad decisions, no matter who made them. 

'I fight for you and work to get results for our community, even when the going is tough.'

Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor said it was a 'shocking day for the nation' and that he was personally praying for Ms Haines.

He said: 'No one should be targeted in this way. Australians will be angry and appalled by the attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta

'Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised.

'I've spoken with the prime minister, and we are united in our view that political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.' 

The area where the incident happened on Monday in Victoria's High Country is just half an hour from Porepunkah. 

It is a small community which made national headlines in August last year when local man Dezi Freeman shot and killed two police officers before going on the run for months.

While there is no confirmation as to the motive of Monday's attack, the area is known to be popular with those pursuing off-the-grid and 'sovereign citizen' lifestyles.

Freeman, who had railed against what he saw as police corruption, shot two officers who were trying to serve him with a warrant in August last year and went on the run for 216 days before the manhunt caught up with him and he was killed in a shootout.

It had been reported that the arrested man had been 'on the radar' of police.