Firefighter ID on Bullet Left on Victorian Minister's Car

A bullet etched with the word RAT and the personal identification number of a former firefighter sat on the bonnet of Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke’s car on Saturday. Edbrooke, who serves in the state Labor government, stated on Monday that the object is a direct death threat intended to intimidate him and his family.

The Herald Sun first reported the discovery on Monday. Edbrooke had been visiting with community members when he returned to his vehicle to find the projectile. He described the scene as shocking, noting that his children also drive the same car. The minister said the specific firefighter ID number would not be known to the general public, which raised questions about surveillance and whether he was being followed.

Edbrooke identified the source of the threat as members of the United Firefighters Union. He said that only union members had been sending him aggressive threats and abuse on social media. The union is currently in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria, an agency Edbrooke oversees. The parties have failed to resolve an enterprise bargaining agreement since 2021. The union is pursuing action in the Fair Work Commission to address the stalemate.

The political tension has escalated ahead of next month’s state election. The United Firefighters Union has authorized material urging voters to rank the state Labor government last. The group plans to run an expensive advertising campaign and staff polling booths with firefighters. It is also holding a members' meeting to decide whether to disaffiliate from the Victorian Labor party entirely.

The incident follows an alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta last week. Edbrooke said there is no suggestion the two events are connected, but the timing heightened his concern. He warned that such actions could force members of parliament to rely on more security, reducing their availability to the public. He argued that Australians should be able to disagree politically without facing physical intimidation.

Edbrooke said he would not be cowed by the discovery. He emphasized his love for face-to-face engagement with the community. He expressed fear that repeated incidents could erode the informal access citizens have to their elected representatives. The minister stated he thinks of his family and other MPs when considering the implications of the threat.

The Fair Work Commission hearing regarding the enterprise bargaining agreement is ongoing. The union’s voting members will meet to determine the union’s future relationship with the Labor party. The state election is scheduled for next month.