WANGARATTA: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has lost a leg after being struck by a car in a deliberate attack, local media said on Tuesday.

Political violence is rare in Australia, but law enforcement has documented a steady rise in threats and abuse directed towards the nation`s elected officials in recent years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was a `test of our character` and led an outpouring of support for Haines, widely praised for her efforts toincrease transparency in politics and crack down on cor-ruption.

She was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in the town of Wangaratta, just over 200 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, at around 3:35pm on Monday.

Witnesses told national broadcaster ABC they heard a bang and saw a woman pinned between two cars.

She was getting things from the trunk of her car when the attack happened, Albanese said. The driver did a U-turn to get back to her after passing, he added. `It`s clear this was a deliberate act,` he said. The 65-year-old was critically injured.-AFP