Australia hold an overall lead of 230 with two second-innings wickets in hand after a day of drama at the MCG. A total of 15 wickets fell on Wednesday's third day of play in front of 40,556 fans.
With his spot in the team under threat and coming off a first-ball duck in the first innings, Hussey steadied Australia's innings, hitting seven boundaries in his 196-minute performance.
James Pattinson is three not out.
Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin found the outside edge of Hussey's bat on 69 but Rahul Dravid dropped a simple chance at slip with the score on 6-163.
Hussey and fellow veteran Ricky Ponting (60) shared a 115-run partnership after Australia had been 4-27. It was 37-year-old Ponting's second half-century of the match in a gritty display with his Test spot under scrutiny.
India had resumed on 3-214 and lost 7-68 as they were bowled out for 282 at lunch.
The tourists fought back immediately. Umesh Yadav (4-49) bowled Australia's David Warner (5) at 1-13 and the paceman struck again three balls later when Ed Cowan (8) was out lbw after offering no shot.
Shaun Marsh (3) dragged a ball onto his stumps in similar fashion to Warner.
Skipper Michael Clarke was bowled by Ishant Sharma for one. Clarke had played onto his stumps for the second time in the match as Ishant produced a glorious offcutter.
Ponting was caught at gully off Zaheer Khan's bowling midway through the third session at 5-142. However the ex-skipper was fortunate not to be given out lbw to Zaheer on 15 with the total on 51.
Australia quickly slumped to 8-166 as Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon departed.
Earlier, Australia's swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus claimed his maiden five-wicket haul of 5-75, including 4-25 on Wednesday.
Dravid (68) fell to Hilfenhaus from the second ball of the day.
In his first Test for almost 12 months, the 28-year-old Tasmanian also removed Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and nightwatchman Ishant cheaply on Wednesday.
Dravid had added 117 for the third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar (73).