6 - 2026 - The Local Paper

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OUT NOW: Wed., July 1, 2026 – First Edition

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

The First Edition of this week’s Local Paper/Melbourne Observer is published online.Other Editions will be published progressively. Read online at: https://isu.pub/0n6DsDN Next print/online issue is Wed., July 8, 2026

Politics

STATEWIDE: Crackdown on dodgy taxi drivers

Monday, June 29, 2026

n The State Government says that it is introducing stronger reforms to crack down on taxi and rideshare drivers who refuse short trips, turn away assistance animals, rip people off and make passengers feel unsafe.From today (Wed., July 1) the ‘two strikes you’re out’ rule will expand to include misusing the meter, refusing a receipt…

Emergency Services

MOONEE VALLEY: Fire at Ascot Vale

Fire Rescue Victoria responded at 9.54am on Sunday (June 28) to an incident in Savige Street, Ascot Vale after callers to Triple Zero (000) reported a building fire.Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find an approximately 50 x 10 metre, brick apartment fully involved in fire.The apartment was on the ground floor of…

Police News

CASEY: Police probe assault at soccer game

Police are appealing for public assistance as they investigate an assault at a soccer game in Doveton.An 18-year-old man, who was on the field at a reserve on Power Rd, was assaulted by three male offenders earlier ths year, about 8pm on Thursday, April 23.It is understood there was an earlier physical altercation between two…

Observer

OBSERVER: Local Theatre Report

Sunday, June 28, 2026

ShowsWarrandyte Theatre Company: The Father (by Florian Zellar translated by Christopher Hampton) Until July 4 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: Grant Purdy. Bookings: trybooking.com/DHJOPGeelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (William Shakespeare) Until July 11 at The Woodbin Theatre, Coronation St., Geelong West. Director: Greg Shawcross….

Observer

OBSERVER: The Music of Hans Zimmer vs John Williams

Following sold-out performances across the UK, Ireland and Europe, The Music of Hans Zimmer vs John Williams makes its Australian premiere this September, with two exclusive performances at Hamer Hall on Sunday, September 6.Presented by John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra and Sony Music Australia in their first-ever collaboration, this landmark event brings together the music…

Observer

OBSERVER: Six The Musical

The international smash-hit Six the Musical makes its return to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 24.From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the six wives of Henry VIII – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr – will turn up the mics, remixing 500 years of history into…

Observer

OBSERVER: Blakyard

Led by matriarch and curator Dr Paola Balla, and co-created with her children Rosie Kalina and Katen Balla, a bit thing invites audiences into an intergenerational Blak family home where cultural stories, creativity and daily life exist side by side. Until July 18.Visitors move through a house built within the North Melbourne Town Hall, exploring…

Observer

OBSERVER: Jersey Forever

Seventeen years since the ground-breaking Australian premiere of Jersey Boys, original stars Bobby Fox, Glaston Toft, Scott Johnson and Stephen Mahy, will reunite in a spectacular live concert Jersey Forever, to perform the iconic music of Jersey Boys and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons for one night only at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on August…

Observer

OBSERVER: The Ballad of Dan O’Malley

Monstrous Theatre and Paul Mitchell Productions have announced the cast for Paul Mitchell’s controversial new play The Ballad of Dan O’Malley: A Football Tragedy, being presented from August 12-22 at The Explosives Factory, Theatre Works St Kilda.Justin Bell leads the cast as Dan O’Malley; the coach caught between his love of the game and big-league…