An orange cockatoo was perched on the seat of Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, as colleagues across the House of Representatives paid tribute to the MP, who suffered horrific injuries in an alleged attack a week ago.

Many women members were wearing white; numerous MPs had touches of orange – the colour (like the cockatoo) marking Haines’ campaign. Crossbenchers were especially emotional, some in tears.

The widespread respect across the chamber for Haines – for her integrity, decency, and political style of determination without confrontation – was palpable.

Haines’ husband Phil met MPs privately to share with them the latest about the progress of his wife of almost 40 years.

Haines was allegedly rammed by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta office on Monday of last week. Brendan Nugent, from a nearby town, has been changed in relation to the alleged attack, for which the motive is not yet known.

Haines has lost both legs. Her condition is serious (rather than critical, as it was earlier), and both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor in their speeches anticipated her returning to her place in the chamber.

Albanese, saying “the shock from what happened last Monday is like a stone in our........

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