Tributes are flowing in Canberra for Dr Haines who was struck repeatedly by a four-wheel drive in what was an allegedly deliberate attack outside her office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, on October 19.
The independent member for Indi had both her legs amputated and is in a stable condition.
Independent MP Allegra Spender said Dr Haines' first words upon waking, as relayed to her husband, Phil Haines, was concern for her staff, community, bystanders, first responders, and medical personnel.
"That exactly speaks to the character of who you are," Ms Spender said.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins echoed this, saying it was "not a surprise to any of us who know her".
"After everything that she has been through, she was thinking of others," Ms Collins said.
Dr Haines has been described as the "matriarch of the crossbench" by her friends and colleagues, some of whom were emotional as tributes flowed in parliament on Monday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes to Dr Haines.
Mr Haines sat resolute in the gallery, looking at the ceiling teary-eyed when his wife's good qualities were spoken of.
"The shock from what happened last Monday is like a stone in our hearts," Mr Albanese said, expressing his love, and the love of the nation, was with Dr Haines, her husband, and her family.
"It is hard to think of anyone in this place with a more irrepressible twinkle in the eye, a twinkle that more than hints at a real inner strength."
Orange heart pins, representing the colour Dr Haines uses for her campaigning, held the white flowers in place. Independent MPs embraced as they walked in.
The silhouette of a cockatoo, cut from orange card, was placed on Dr Haines' chair by good friend and colleague Zali Stegall.
Mr Albanese also paid tribute to the bystanders, witnesses, and medical staff who assisted Dr Haines immediately after the alleged attack.
"We are also uplifted in the knowledge that on that terrible afternoon, we saw examples of the best of the Australian character," he said.
A "rising tide of rage" was distorting public discourse, Mr Albanese said, with the normalisation of "the language of grievance and violence".
Crossbenchers Ms Steggall and Monique Ryan became emotional when speaking about their friend.
''You're the matriarch of the crossbench, always the voice for respectful political debate,'' Ms Steggall said, praising Mr Haines' ''calm resolve and love'' for his wife as a ''balm'' for the nation.
Dr Ryan described the Indi MP as ''a woman of luminous generosity and kindness'' who could put anyone at ease.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said it would be a ''resounding moment'' for Australia's democracy should Dr Haines resume her seat in parliament.
''What we must do is call out and confront the actual sources of intolerance, of intimidation, of political violence in our country.''
House of Representatives speaker Milton Dick said Dr Haines treated everyone with respect, ''regardless of title or position".
"I could always count on Helen when I had a particularly difficult day, or if I needed a bit of extra encouragement,'' he said.
Above and to the sides of the chamber, dozens of senators, who had suspended government inquiries to attend, watched on.
Aside from Question Time, Monday's sitting will be devoted to tributes to the Indi MP.
Parliament opened on Monday with increased security in public areas, which the Australian Federal Police and government are continuing to work on.
A fundraiser for charity Save the Children, set up on Wednesday by Dr Haines' family in lieu of flowers, had surpassed $1.2 million in donations by Sunday afternoon.
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