Barber's heroics in MP attack driven by family thoughts

The barber dubbed a hero for intervening in an apparently deliberate attack on federal MP Helen Haines says he was thinking of his family at the moment he stepped in.

Dr Haines, 65, was outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in Victoria's north, when she was struck by a vehicle, causing critical injuries.

The independent member for Indi was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital after the incident, which happened about 3.35pm on Monday.

Ricky Jeffries was working at his nearby barber shop when he saw the incident and stepped in to apprehend the driver.

Mr Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday he saw the offender with a knife.

"I just wasn't comfortable with his movements and so I basically just took it out of his pocket and threw it away."

A 43-year-old man from the nearby town of Tarrawingee was arrested in connection with the alleged attack, which was also being investigated by counter-terrorism authorities.

Federal leaders have labelled Mr Jeffries a hero, but the barber insisted he was just one of many people playing their role as the emergency unfolded.

''I just was a person who had an opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish sort of way,'' he said.

When asked what was going through his head at the time, he replied: ''My wife will be disappointed if I'm injured.''

''I was just trying to not get injured and not let anyone else be injured after the initial incident,'' he said.

People were going about their business in Wangaratta on Tuesday morning under a gloomy, grey sky.

Cars were stopping for well-wishers to deliver tributes at the MP's office, while swarms of media descended on the regional centre's main street.

Locals Emma and Neil told ABC News Breakfast they knew Dr Haines both as a politician and a highly-valued member of the community.