Edbrooke calls 'RAT' bullet on car a targeted death threat

Victorian Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrooke declared a bullet etched with the word "RAT" a direct death threat after finding the projectile on his vehicle's bonnet on Saturday. The discovery occurred after he concluded a series of community meetings, a routine part of his public duties that he now describes as unsettling.

The Herald Sun first reported the incident on Monday. Edbrooke told ABC Radio Melbourne that the specific markings on the bullet included his old firefighter number. He noted that this identifier is "very specific to a firefighter" and is not common knowledge among the general public. The combination of the ID and the insult left him "shocked" and "horrified".

The timing of the threat aligns with a high-profile incident in Wangaratta, where federal MP Helen Haines faced an alleged attack the previous week. Edbrooke stated there is no suggestion linking the two events, but the sequence of events has raised questions about safety for public figures. He said he now wonders if he is being followed or surveilled, particularly because his children drive the same car.

Edbrooke identified members of the United Firefighters Union as the primary source of recent "aggressive threats" and social media abuse. The union is currently engaged in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria, an agency overseen by Edbrooke, over an enterprise bargaining agreement that has remained unresolved since 2021. The conflict is moving through the Fair Work Commission.

The labor dispute has spilled into the political arena ahead of next month's election. The union has authorized material urging voters to place the state Labor party last on the ballot. It is also planning a members' meeting to consider disaffiliation from the party and intends to staff polling booths with firefighters during the vote.

Despite the intimidation, Edbrooke stated he will not change his approach. "I'm not going to be intimidated by this," he said. He emphasized the need for politicians to remain accessible to constituents, warning that such actions could lead to increased security barriers that reduce public availability.