A bullet that Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said he discovered on his car on Saturday was reported to police on Sunday, according to published reporting of Victoria Police’s response.
Edbrooke, Victoria’s Emergency Services Minister and a former firefighter, said he found the bullet on 24 October.
He said it bore his former firefighter identification number and the word “RAT”. Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne, he described it as a death threat and expressed concern for his children, who also use the vehicle.
The ABC reported that Victoria Police’s Security Investigation Unit was investigating an alleged threat in the greater Frankston area.
Why Was It Reported The Following Day?
AAP reporting published by The New Daily on Monday, 26 October, said Victoria Police confirmed the incident was reported on Sunday.
The reason for the interval between the reported discovery and police notification has not been established by STPL News.
The published account does not give the times of discovery or reporting, so the length of that interval remains unclear.
Edbrooke Calls For Politicians To Stop Campaigning With UFU Members
Edbrooke acknowledged he did not know who placed the bullet, while criticising a minority of United Firefighters Union members over threats and intimidation.
The ABC reported that he also called for politicians to stop campaigning with those members.
“All politicians need to call out these threats and stop campaigning with these UFU members.”
His comments implied a connection between the incident and UFU members. The police statement reported by the ABC did not identify a suspect or establish union involvement.
Independent Candidate Rejects Call To Stop Campaigning With Firefighters
Independent Frankston candidate Chrysten Abraham condemned the reported threat while rejecting calls for candidates to stop campaigning alongside firefighters.
In a media release dated 26 October, Abraham called for the person responsible to be identified and held accountable.
“Condemning threats is not the same as condemning debate. We must be capable of doing one without silencing the other.”
Abraham said firefighters’ concerns about safety, equipment and working conditions remained valid regardless of the alleged incident.
She said she could disagree with Edbrooke on policy while standing beside him against threats and intimidation, and would continue listening to firefighters, UFU members and the broader Frankston community.
Union Condemns Threat And Pledges Cooperation
In a public statement on 26 October, the UFU condemned the threat and said it would cooperate fully with police.
Victorian branch secretary Peter Marshall called for the person responsible to be identified.
“Whoever did this does not speak or act for firefighters or for this union.”
The union urged anyone with information to contact police.
Separately, the ABC reported that Marshall questioned whether the incident had occurred during a subsequent union meeting and denied union involvement, citing an audio recording.
Dispute Over Firefighter Conditions
The UFU’s public statement accused the government of seeking to weaken minimum staffing and protections around rostering, classifications and consultation.
The union said it would continue campaigning for voters to put Labor last at the 28 November election.
Edbrooke told the ABC the government was ready to increase firefighters’ pay and broadly retain existing conditions.
STPL News has contacted Edbrooke’s office for comment and will update this article if a response is received.
