Firefighter ID on threat bullet exposes personal risk in Victorian election

Political violence in Australia often remains abstract until physical objects enter the public sphere. On Monday, Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke confirmed that a bullet found on his vehicle served as a direct intimidation tactic during the state’s final week of campaigning.

The Herald Sun first reported finding the object on Saturday. Edbrooke discovered the bullet resting on the bonnet after visiting community members. The projectile was etched with the word "RAT" and his former firefighter identification number. He described the item as a death threat, noting that the specific ID code is known only to those in the fire service and not the general public.

The incident follows the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta last week. While officials have stated there is no direct link between the two events, the timing has intensified concerns about physical safety for elected officials. Edbrooke told ABC Radio Melbourne that the discovery left him feeling shocked and horrified. He questioned whether he was being followed or surveilled, particularly because his children also drive the vehicle.

Edbrooke identified the United Firefighters Union as the primary source of aggressive threats against him on social media. The union is currently engaged in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria, an agency Edbrooke oversees. The parties have failed to agree on an enterprise bargaining agreement since 2021. The union is also preparing a costly advertising campaign and urging members to rank the state Labor party last in the election scheduled for next month.

In response to the threat, Edbrooke stated he would not be intimidated by the incident. He emphasized the need for politicians to remain accessible to the public without requiring increased security details. He warned that physical actions like this could erode the traditional culture of face-to-face political engagement in Australia.

The union is also holding a members' meeting to decide whether to disaffiliate from the Victorian Labor party. The next major scheduled event is the state election, which takes place in less than a week.