MELBOURNE: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after being hit by a car, her husband said on Wednesday, hailing her as a `fighter` despite critical injuries sustained in what police described as a targeted attack.

Haines is now in a stable condition at a Melbourne hospital days after being struck by a car on Monday near her office in the town of Wangaratta, just over 200 kilometres northeast of the Victoria state capital.

The incident has prompted soul-searching in a country where political violence is rare but where police have documented a steady rise in threats and abuse towards elected officials in recent years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes to Haines, an independent member of parliament and a passionate campaigner for transparency and against corruption.

And he has acknowledged the need for Australians to turn down the temperature and embrace respectful disa-greement over polarisation. Speaking at the hospital on Wednesday, Haines`s husband of almost 40 years, Phil, said that after days in intensive care, surgeons had been forced to amputate both her legs.

`But the good news in all this is Helen is alive and she`s stable. That is the most important thing for our family,` he said. `The two most important parts of Helen for us as a family are her heart and her mind.

`Her heart is huge. She is a very compassionate, caring, loving person.

`Helen`s road to recovery will be long and difficult, but we know she is a fighter.` The man alleged to have wounded Haines in what police have called a `targeted` attack faced court for the first time earlier on Wednesday.

Fort y-t hre e-ye arold Brendan Nugent has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury, as well as the federal crime of harming a public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. -AFP