Firefighter ID marks threat bullet

A bullet etched with the word RAT and a specific firefighter identification number sat on the bonnet of a government minister’s car this past Saturday.

Paul Edbrooke, the Labor minister for emergency services in Victoria, confirmed the discovery on Monday. He had returned to his vehicle after speaking with local residents. The Herald Sun broke the story that the object was a projectile. Edbrooke told ABC Radio Melbourne that he felt shocked and horrified by the find. He cited the recent alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta as context, though he noted no direct link between the two events.

The minister stated that the ID number was not public knowledge. He described the code as unique to his former role as a firefighter. Edbrooke said the combination of the number and the word RAT constituted a death threat. He pointed to his children, who drive the same car, as a reason for his concern. He questioned whether he was being followed or surveilled. He stated that only members of the United Firefighters Union had been sending him aggressive threats and abuse on social media.

The union is currently involved 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 taking action in the Fair Work Commission. It is also campaigning against the state Labor government ahead of next month’s election. The group plans to staff polling booths with firefighters and has authorized material urging voters to rank the party last. It is also holding a meeting to discuss disaffiliation from the party.

Edbrooke said he will not let the incident intimidate him. He mentioned thinking of his family and other members of parliament. He warned that such actions could force politicians to rely more on security details. This could make them less available to the public. He said Australians expect politicians to engage in face-to-face conversation while disagreeing on policy. He expressed fear that the current trend could erode that democratic norm.

The bullet remained on the car as a physical marker of the threat. The union has not yet commented on the specific ID number found on the projectile. The Fair Work Commission hearing remains the primary venue for the ongoing industrial dispute.