Police investigating after bullet 'death threat' against Victorian minister

Victoria Police are investigating a potential death threat directed at Paul Edbrooke, the Victorian emergency services minister, after a bullet was discovered on his vehicle in Frankston. The projectile, found on the car’s bonnet on Saturday, bore the word “RAT” etched into its gold metal casing. On the reverse side, investigators noted an inscription containing Edbrooke’s five-digit identification number from his tenure as a firefighter, a personal detail known to only a limited circle of individuals. Edbrooke, the Labor member for Frankston, stated he was shocked and horrified by the discovery. He explained that he had been out in the community engaging face-to-face with constituents when he returned to his parked car to find the object. While he acknowledged he had previously received online abuse and threats, he described this physical item as a significant escalation. Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday, he expressed concern for his family’s safety, noting that his three young adult children also drive the vehicle. He questioned whether he was being followed or surveilled, calling the incident a clear death threat rather than a subtle warning. The timing of the incident coincides with heightened tensions between the state government and the United Firefighters Union (UFU). The two parties have been locked in an industrial dispute since 2021 regarding an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The UFU is currently pursuing action at the Fair Work Commission and has launched a political campaign urging voters to rank the Labor party last in the upcoming state election scheduled for November 28. Union Secretary Peter Marshall had publicly declared just one day prior to the bullet’s discovery that Edbrooke and Premier Ben Carroll were “in the gun” ahead of the vote. Marshall later clarified that his comment referred strictly to the electoral contest, stating that anyone viewing the relevant footage would understand the context. Despite the public condemnation issued by the union, Edbrooke attributed the threat to a small minority within the UFU. He argued that because so few people possessed his specific firefighter ID number, the perpetrator likely belonged to the union. He claimed that certain members believed intimidation tactics would force him to provide a taxpayer-funded financial package to the organization. Edbrooke denied that the dispute involved firefighter safety or staffing levels, asserting instead that the conflict centered on an income protection scheme he believed should benefit individual firefighters directly rather than the union body. The UFU responded swiftly to the allegations. In a formal statement, the union condemned the threat “without qualification” and demanded a thorough investigation by Victoria Police. Marshall stated that threatening anyone, even a minister with whom the union strongly disagrees, contradicts the values of the organization. He insisted that the individual responsible did not speak for firefighters or the union. However, during a snap union meeting held shortly after initial media reports emerged, Marshall displayed skepticism regarding the authenticity of the claim. In an audio recording of the session shared with ABC News, he questioned whether the bullet had actually been placed on the car, suggesting that if the story was false, it might serve to distract from the union’s enterprise bargaining objectives. He later addressed hundreds of attending members, asserting categorically that the bullet had no connection to the union and accusing Edbrooke of attempting to derail the union’s campaign efforts. The incident adds to a wave of violence targeting elected officials in Australia. It occurred days after federal Member for Parow, Helen Haines, was struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta office. Haines remains in serious but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital, where she underwent the amputation of both legs to save her life. The driver, Brendan Nugent, is currently detained and facing multiple charges. Police have indicated there is no evidence linking the attack on Haines to the incident involving Edbrooke. Victoria Police confirmed that their Security Investigation Unit is examining the circumstances surrounding the threat in the greater Frankston area. Detectives are working to determine how long the bullet remained on the vehicle and to identify the person responsible. Edbrooke stated he is awaiting the outcome of the police inquiry. He urged political candidates from other parties to cease campaigning alongside UFU members who engage in such behavior. He emphasized that while democratic disagreement is fundamental, physical intimidation undermines the ability of citizens to discuss politics openly. The UFU maintained its stance that it will continue to make its case through voting and legal channels, explicitly rejecting the use of threats. The state election is set for November 28.