Paul Edbrooke identifies firefighter ID on bullet left on car

A bullet engraved with the word "RAT" and a specific firefighter identification number sat on the bonnet of Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke's car on Saturday. The Herald Sun broke the news on Monday, but Edbrooke had been speaking with residents in his community when he returned to his vehicle to find the metal round.

The Labor politician told ABC Radio Melbourne that the discovery left him shocked and horrified. He noted the timing came just after the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines the previous week, though he stressed there is no suggestion linking the two incidents. Edbrooke said the specific nature of the engraving made the message clear.

"That's a death threat, a bullet with my firefighter ID number on it and the word 'rat'," Edbrooke said. He explained that the ID number is "very specific to a firefighter" and would not be known to the general public. This detail raised immediate concerns about who might be tracking his movements.

Edbrooke said he began wondering if he was being followed or surveilled. He highlighted the risk to his household, noting that his children also drive the same car. The minister stated that the only people sending him aggressive threats and abuse on social media are members of the United Firefighters Union.

The union is currently in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria, an agency overseen by Edbrooke. The parties have failed to resolve an enterprise bargaining agreement since 2021. The union is pursuing action in the Fair Work Commission and is campaigning against the state Labor government ahead of next month's election.

The United Firefighters Union has authorized material urging voters to rank the Labor party last. It also plans a members' meeting to decide whether to disaffiliate from the Victorian Labor party altogether. The union has vowed to staff polling booths with firefighters and run an expensive advertising campaign.

Edbrooke said he will not be intimidated by the incident. He warned that such actions could lead to MPs requiring more security and becoming less available to the public. He cited the attack in Wangaratta as a reminder of the physical risks involved in community engagement.