Independent for Frankston
We can do better.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 26 October 2026
Independent candidate for Frankston, Chrysten Abraham, has unequivocally condemned the reported threat against Emergency Services Minister and incumbent Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, while rejecting calls for political candidates to cease campaigning alongside firefighters.
Following reports that a bullet was left on Minister Edbrooke’s vehicle, Chrysten Abraham has called for the individual responsible to be identified, apprehended and held accountable.
“Let me be unequivocally clear, threats, intimidation and violence have absolutely no place in our democracy. It does not matter what political party you represent, what position you hold or how strongly someone disagrees with you. Nobody deserves to be threatened.”
“Having spoken with firefighters here in Frankston, including members of the United Firefighters Union, I know they share my condemnation of this behaviour. We all want the person responsible identified and held accountable under the law.”
However, Abraham has pushed back against reported comments from Minister Edbrooke urging politicians to stop campaigning with UFU members.
“Condemning threats is not the same as condemning debate. We must be capable of doing one without silencing the other.”
“Our firefighters have raised very real concerns about their safety, equipment, working conditions and the safety of the communities they protect. Those concerns do not disappear because somebody has allegedly committed a disgraceful act.”
“We will not cancel those concerns. We will not shut down one side of the debate. And we will not abandon the people who have had the courage to speak publicly about what they believe is going wrong.”
Abraham said political leaders across the spectrum have a responsibility to condemn intimidation without using such incidents to discourage legitimate scrutiny, protest or political participation.
“Democracy is supposed to be robust. It is supposed to be passionate. It is supposed to allow people to challenge those in power, particularly when they believe something is fundamentally wrong.”
“I can disagree with Paul Edbrooke on policy while standing firmly beside him against threats and intimidation. Those two positions are not contradictory. They are what a functioning democracy demands.”
“We have reached a dangerous point if legitimate disagreement is treated as something that must be silenced rather than debated.”
“Every politician, every union representative and every candidate has a responsibility to set the standard. Condemn the threats. Respect the individual. Defend the right to disagree.”
Abraham reaffirmed that she and her campaign team would continue listening to firefighters, UFU members and the broader Frankston community.
“Let’s challenge each other on policy, on ideas and at the ballot box. Never through threats.”
ENDS
Chrysten Abraham
Independent Candidate for Frankston
chrysten@chrysten4fkn.com
