A man found dead in floodwaters in Queensland's southeast has been identified as James Hansen, 57, a dairy farmer and former Fraser Coast councillor. Police found him unresponsive at Smothering Creek, Boompa, on Monday morning and emergency crews declared him dead shortly after. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to Hansen's years of service. Police say investigations into the circumstances of his death are ongoing and a report will go to the Coroner. Elsewhere, six campers were rescued from floodwaters at Leyburn, near Toowoomba.
New Zealanders have begun voting ahead of polling day on November 7. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is seeking a second term for his coalition of National, ACT and NZ First. Labour, led by Chris Hipkins, is trying to regain government. Recent polls show the right bloc narrowly ahead of the left bloc. The new Opportunity party could be decisive if it wins five per cent of the vote to enter parliament.
The stage musical Little Shop of Horrors has been announced for a season at the Canberra Theatre Centre from 31 May 2027. The show is part of a national tour of a new full-scale Australian production, which follows a sell-out season at Brisbane's QPAC earlier this year. The musical, first staged in 1982 and based on Roger Corman's 1960 film, follows a florist who discovers a carnivorous plant with sinister intentions. Pre-sale tickets go on sale from 10 am on Monday 26 October, with general sales from Thursday 29 October. The full tour cast will be announced later.
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The Local Paper network publishes localised editions across Melbourne, Victoria and selected country areas, with around 40 local editions in total. The publication is produced by Local Media Pty Ltd and is not associated with any other newspaper group. The Melbourne Observer, established in 1969, appears inside each issue and includes several special-interest supplements. The page also sets out the company's office details, the network's editions and heritage titles, and its registered business names. Local Media Pty Ltd claims intellectual property rights over its trading entities and warns that unauthorised use may attract substantial penalties.
The Local Paper network publishes localised editions across Melbourne, Victoria and selected country areas, with its North-West edition covering suburbs such as Brimbank, Hume, Melton and Wyndham. The page is largely publisher information, including office addresses, subscription and classified contacts, editorial standards and a list of the company's websites, registered business names and local newspaper titles. It states that the publisher is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council and that complaints may be made in writing.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned to speak on The Simpsons for the first time since 2017, with South Asian actor Sunil Malhotra taking over the role from Hank Azaria. The character appeared in Sunday's Halloween episode, Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening, alongside his wife Manjula, now voiced by Janina Gavankar. Azaria stepped away from the role in 2020 after criticism of the character's portrayal of South Asians. Malhotra said he initially felt uneasy about the audition but was keen to reshape the character. Showrunner Matt Selman said Apu will not return to the background again.
Two Indigenous women on Cape York have become the first female rangers in their communities to gain aerial shooting accreditation. Napranum Ranger Coordinator Marietta Matasia and Apudthama Ranger Coordinator Angelina Williams completed the course alongside Mapoon Rangers Gregory Hudson and Edwin Ling. The accreditation will help local ranger teams manage feral pigs and protect marine turtle nesting sites. The three-day course at Billy's Lagoon covered firearms safety, humane destruction of animals and licensing requirements. Feral pigs destroyed turtle eggs across western Cape York, and the alliance culled 7493 of them in the most recent nesting season.
The Victorian Liberal and Nationals opposition has promised $1 million to improve road access to Sikh Volunteers Australia's emergency relief precinct in Langwarrin. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the works would include a dedicated entry lane, a wider driveway for buses, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles, and a left-in, left-out arrangement. The commitment is an election pledge, and its delivery would depend on the Coalition winning government at the November state election. The organisation's chief executive, Jaswinder Singh, welcomed the announcement.
The Local Paper's Eastern Suburbs edition covers Monash and surrounding areas, with its heritage titles including the Monash Gazette and Oakleigh Times. The page is a general network notice describing editions, websites and registered business names. It explains the publisher's press standards commitments and asks readers to contact the paper or the Australian Press Council if they believe those standards were breached. Copyright and intellectual property notices appear at the foot of the page, alongside a list of suburban local newspapers.
The Local Paper is a Melbourne and Victorian publisher that produces localised editions in 40 areas. It is produced by Local Media Pty Ltd, and includes the Melbourne Observer section, established in 1969. The publication states it is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. The text lists its editions, heritage newspaper titles and websites, along with copyright and intellectual property notices.
The Melbourne Observer is a section of The Local Paper, a network of local newspapers covering Melbourne, Victoria, and selected country areas. It includes sections such as Melbourne Homemaker, Melbourne Seniors News, and Victorian Rural News. The Local Paper is produced by Local Media Pty Ltd and is a member of the Local and Independent News Association. It adheres to the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. The company's office is located in Yarrambat, Victoria, and it offers various contact options for classifieds, free ads, and subscriptions.
