A bullet on the windscreen, a firefighter’s old badge number: The message left on a Victorian minister’s car
The threatening act comes as the firefighters union begins a campaign urging voters to put Labor last, as a dispute over staffing requirements continues.
Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrooke discovered a bullet on his car bonnet on Saturday. The bullet, reportedly etched with the word "RAT" and his former firefighter number, has sparked concern. Victoria Police are currently investigating the incident, which they classify as a threat against a member of Victorian parliament.
The ABC reports that the bullet was found by Mr. Edbrooke on Saturday when he returned to his car. According to Mr. Edbrooke, a small minority within the United Firefighters Union (UFU) believes that threats and intimidation are acceptable, but he emphasizes that this behavior is not representative of firefighters as a whole. He reported the threat to Victoria Police and called for other politicians to address these threats and distance themselves from UFU members.
The UFU has been embroiled in an industrial dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria since 2021, currently contesting an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement in the Fair Work Commission. Victoria Police's Security Investigation Unit is handling the matter, with detectives set to investigate the incident's circumstances. The recent attack on federal independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs in an alleged deliberate attack, has heightened awareness of the safety concerns surrounding politicians and officials.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush has announced a proactive approach to securing politicians and responding to any threats that may emerge ahead of the state election on November 28.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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