Overview
- Paul Edbrooke, Victoria’s emergency services minister and a former firefighter, found a bullet etched with the word “RAT” and his old firefighter number on his car on Saturday and reported it to police.
- Victoria Police's Security Investigation Unit has opened a probe into the incident and detectives are examining it as a threat against a member of parliament.
- Edbrooke said a “small minority” linked to the United Firefighters Union were tolerating intimidation and urged other candidates to distance themselves from those union members.
- UFU secretary Peter Marshall condemned the act, said the person responsible did not act for the union, and pledged cooperation with police while defending recent union campaigning over staffing and pay.
- The episode follows a serious attack on federal MP Helen Haines this week and adds to tensions from a long-running UFU dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria that is before the Fair Work Commission, prompting police to increase protection for politicians ahead of the election.