Crossbench MPs honour Helen Haines with orange cockatoo tribute as she recovers

UPDATE - follow-up to Australia politics live: MPs to pay tribute to Helen Haines as parliament resumes; Hanson says One Nation cartoons 'not going anywhere': Crossbench MPs will honour Helen Haines today by placing an orange cockatoo sign on her seat as lower house members, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, send well wishes. The orange cockatoo has become linked to Haines after she said in 2024 that volunteers for her predecessor Cathy McGowan wore orange shirts like a flock of cockatoos. Volunteers have turned old yard signs into cockies, adding fun to the Indi independent campaigns. Haines remains in serious but stable condition at a Melbourne hospital after losing both legs in an alleged attack near her north‑east Victorian electorate office a week ago. Her husband Phil Haines told reporters at Alfred Hospital that her heart and mind are in good shape and said he will attend parliament today. Haines was the first federal politician to sign the Compassion in Politics civility pledge; crossbench MPs will sign the pledge today. Independent Zali Steggall, speaking through tears, said the shock is hard to process, recalled meeting Haines in 2019 and noted seven years of tough times from the Black Summer fires to COVID, calling Haines the matriarch of the crossbench. Angus Taylor urged the government to name and target all forms of extremism, called for tougher penalties for intimidation, and defended robust parliamentary debate as separate from violence. He praised Haines as an example of civility. The prime minister said he regularly talks with Haines, especially on rural health, and praised her engagement. ## Context The orange cockatoo tribute reflects a long‑standing community brand for the Indi seat, and the civility pledge aims to improve tone in Australian politics.