Paul Edbrooke calls car bullet a death threat after finding firefighter ID

Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke has declared a bullet found on his car a direct death threat. The projectile, discovered on Saturday, bore the word 'RAT' and his former firefighter identification number. Edbrooke stated that the specific ID number is not public knowledge and is unique to his firefighting history.

The Herald Sun first reported the incident on Monday. Edbrooke had been speaking with local residents when he returned to his vehicle and noticed the bullet resting on the bonnet. He described himself as 'shocked' and 'horrified' by the find. The timing follows an alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines the previous week, though officials say there is no suggested link between the two events.

In an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne, Edbrooke expressed concern for his family’s safety, noting that his children drive the same car. He said the discovery prompted immediate questions about surveillance and tracking. 'You start thinking, Am I being followed? Who knows I'm here? Am I being surveilled?' he said. He characterized the message as unmistakable, calling it a death threat given the personal details etched into the metal.

Edbrooke identified members of the United Firefighters Union as the only group sending him 'aggressive threats' and abuse on social media. The union is currently involved in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria, an agency under Edbrooke’s oversight. The parties have failed to resolve the firefighters' enterprise bargaining agreement since 2021. The union is pursuing action in the Fair Work Commission over the stalled contract.

Beyond the industrial dispute, the union is campaigning against the state Labor government ahead of next month's election. It has vowed to fund an expensive advertising campaign and staff polling booths with firefighters. The union has also authorized material urging voters to rank the Labor party last. It is planning a members' meeting to decide whether to disaffiliate from the Victorian Labor party.

Edbrooke said he would not be cowed by the threat. 'I'm not going to be intimidated by this,' he said. He reflected on the democratic process, noting that he enjoys speaking with people face to face. He warned that such actions could lead to MPs requiring more security and becoming less available to the public.

He emphasized that Australians can disagree politically while still engaging in conversation at polling booths. 'I'm afraid that with actions like this, we start losing that,' he said, referring to the casual nature of political discourse.