Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has no recollection of correspondence that raises new questions about a union fund that she helped set up in the 1990s. The evidence has been raised by a former colleague at the Prime Minister's old law firm, Slater and Gordon. Nick Styante Brown says there's a two-and-a-half-year discrepancy in Ms Gillard's explanation of when she knew about a union loan for a house she lived in. 

 

 

 

Tasmania's Lower House has yet to pass a forestry deal after a marathon debate that stretched well into the early hours. Labour and the Greens back the bill which aims to protect half a million hectares of native forest from logging. Parliament will be recalled this morning and the bill is expected to be passed. 

 

 

 

Two men arrested yesterday over the death of Melbourne woman Sarah Cafferkey have been released without charge. Steven James Hunter from Bacchus Marsh has been charged with her murder.

 

 

 

Residents in Gaza and Israel are returning to normal life as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be holding. Hamas declared a public holiday. The truce came into effect yesterday after a week of bloodshed.