Police investigate engraved bullet left on Victorian minister’s car

Paul Edbrooke links the threat to a minority of firefighters’ union members, while union secretary Peter Marshall condemns it without qualification.

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Updated26 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources6 outlets

Follow this storyHear when it moves

Police are investigating after a bullet engraved with the word “RAT” and Victorian Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrooke’s former firefighter identification number was left on his car windscreen in Frankston over the weekend. Edbrooke blamed a small minority within the United Firefighters Union, whose leader condemned the threat and said whoever was responsible did not act for the union.

Edbrooke told ABC radio he suspected a union connection because few people knew his five-digit identification number. His allegation comes amid disputes between the state government and the United Firefighters Union over staffing, pay and income protection arrangements.

“The only people I’m really getting aggressive threats from at the moment are members of that union,” he said.

Edbrooke worked as a firefighter in Frankston for 14 years and served as the station’s union workplace representative. He said the small group he blamed did not represent firefighters more broadly.

UFU secretary Peter Marshall rejected any association between the threat and the union.

“Threatening anyone, including a minister we strongly disagree with, is the opposite of everything this union stands for. I condemn it without qualification,” Marshall said.

He said whoever left the bullet did not act for the union or firefighters generally, and that he hoped police found the culprit.

Marshall also clarified remarks he made to members on Friday that Edbrooke and Premier Ben Carroll would be “in the gun” if they affected members.

“I meant at the ballot box and anyone there, or seeing the video, would know that,” he said on Monday.

The union has been running television advertisements urging voters to put Labor last at next month’s state election. It says the government wants to end enforceable minimum staffing for firefighters.

“Firefighters beat these arguments in court when a Liberal government ran them. Now a Labor government is running the Liberals’ case against its own firefighters,” Marshall said when announcing the campaign.

Edbrooke disputed the union’s characterisation. He said the issue concerned an income protection scheme, arguing that support should go directly to firefighters rather than to the union. He maintained that the government posed no threat to firefighter safety or staffing.

The union’s years-long pay dispute with the government remains before the Fair Work Commission. Edbrooke said the government was ready to provide a pay rise but would not include what he described as a union slush fund in an agreement.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson expressed sympathy for Edbrooke and his family and condemned threats and intimidation. Edbrooke urged election candidates from other parties to stop campaigning with the UFU.

RSS

The Daily Edition

The front page in your inbox each weekday morning: the lead, the picks, and why each one earned its place.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The bullet raises concerns about the safety of elected officials. Responsibility remains a matter for the police investigation, distinct from the minister’s allegation about union members.
The incident comes during an election campaign and a prolonged industrial dispute, increasing the importance of separating legitimate political campaigning from intimidation.

Background

Firefighter industrial disputes involve both employment conditions and the organisation of emergency services. Staffing guarantees, pay and income protection arrangements can become politically contentious because governments oversee public spending while unions represent members’ workplace interests.

In this dispute, the union is campaigning against Labor over enforceable minimum staffing, while Edbrooke says the disagreement concerns how income protection support should be distributed. Those are competing accounts of the dispute, not an established explanation for who left the bullet.

Key Perspectives

Paul Edbrooke: Suspects a small minority of UFU members was responsible, says they do not represent firefighters, and argues income protection support should go directly to firefighters. United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall: Condemns the threat, denies the perpetrator acted for the union, and says the government’s staffing position warrants electoral opposition. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson: Expresses support for Edbrooke and his family and rejects threats and intimidation.

What to Watch

Any police findings identifying who left the bullet and establishing their motive.
Developments in the Fair Work Commission pay dispute and negotiations over staffing and income protection.
The union’s campaign and parties’ responses ahead of next month’s state election.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedPolice are investigating a bullet left on a Victorian minister’s car.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “A bullet on the windscreen, a firefighter’s old badge number: The message left on a Victorian minister’s car. Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrooke has hit out at the United Firefighters Union after a bullet engraved with the word “RAT” and his former firefighter number was left on his car windscreen in Frankston over the weekend. Police are investigating.”
Partly supportedEdbrooke links the threat to a minority of firefighters’ union members.Just In: “Whilst Mr Edbrooke said he did not know who put the bullet on his car, he said there was a “small minority” of people in the United Firefighters Union (UFU) who thought threats and intimidation were acceptable”
SupportedMarshall condemned the threat without qualification.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Threatening anyone, including a minister we strongly disagree with, is the opposite of everything this union stands for. I condemn it without qualification.””
Reports differThe bullet was left on Edbrooke’s car windscreen in Frankston.Just In: “Paul Edbrooke, a former firefighter and the Labor state MP for Frankston, found the bullet placed on his car on Saturday.”
SupportedEdbrooke said he suspected a union connection because few people knew his five-digit identification number.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Edbrooke said he suspected the UFU because very few people knew his five-digit ID number.”
SupportedEdbrooke said, “The only people I’m really getting aggressive threats from at the moment are members of that union”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““The only people I’m really getting aggressive threats from at the moment are members of that union,” he said.”
SupportedMarshall said whoever left the bullet did not act for the union or firefighters generally, and that he hoped police found the culprit.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Marshall said whoever had planted the bullet did not act for his union or for firefighters more generally, and that he hoped police found the culprit.”
SupportedMarshall clarified on Monday that his “in the gun” remark meant at the ballot box.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “On Monday, Marshall clarified this comment. “I meant at the ballot box and anyone there, or seeing the video, would know that,” he said.”
SupportedThe union was running television advertisements urging voters to put Labor last at next month’s state election.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Since Wednesday, it has been running televised ads urging people to put Labor last in next month’s state election”
SupportedThe union said the government wants to end enforceable minimum staffing for firefighters.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “angry that the government wants to end enforceable minimum staffing for firefighters.”
SupportedMarshall said firefighters had beaten the arguments in court under a Liberal government and that a Labor government was now running the Liberals’ case against firefighters.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Firefighters beat these arguments in court when a Liberal government ran them. Now a Labor government is running the Liberals’ case against its own firefighters,” said UFU Secretary Peter Marshall”
SupportedThe years-long pay dispute remains before the Fair Work Commission.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The union has also been locked in a years-long pay dispute with the government, which remains before the Fair Work Commission.”