Visitors to Queensland could soon see a new tourist levy added to their bills as the state considers new ways for the industry to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A panel of experts tasked with rebooting Queensland's tourism sector, which ground to a standstill during the pandemic's closed border period, are suggesting a new tax to be introduced by local councils.

The panel believes with millions in new funding, the industry could be worth $44 billion a year to the state's economy by 2032.

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John O'Shea from The Langham Gold Coast said the opening of the new Langham hotel has been delayed for years, and they're now hoping to catch up financially.

"We've had a lot of challenges, a pandemic, a war, supply chain issues," he said.

While domestic tourism has reached pre-pandemic levels, international tourism remains down by 60 per cent.

The new tax would contribute to the maintenance of state tourist attractions and national parks.

"We don't just want to build back to where we were, we want to see the industry grow," Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe said.

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"We have very different destinations, that have very different needs."

The tourist levy would be added to nightly accommodation bills or as a small fee when entering some of the states national parks

Fees would be determined by individual councils.

"I think an accommodation levy, a visitor levy of five to eight per cent in the first couple of years, would be appropriate," Kevin Byrne from the Cairns Tourism Industry Association said.

A humpback whale carcass has washed ashore on the NSW coast – with a huge chunk taken out of its side.

The 11-metre creature washed ashore at Smoky Beach, south of South West Rocks, on the state's Mid North Coast.

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The poor creature has a huge piece of flesh missing, perhaps from a shark attack or a mishap with a boat.

Officials from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment said they have been working to remove it from the beach, and the carcass was later seen being driven from the beach on the back of a semi-trailer.

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Heartbroken relatives of murder victims are campaigning for a new law which would prevent killers from being found "not guilty" due to mental impairment.

The father of Courtney Herron is just one of a dozen loved ones begging the government to change the terminology.

His daughter, Courtney was just 25 when Henry Hammond murdered her in 2019.

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Hammond escaped conviction and was instead found not guilty by way of mental illness.

The murderer was ordered to spend 25 years in a psychiatric facility.

John Herron said his daughter died three deaths.

The first, her murder in 2019, the second that her killer was on bail at the time and the third, when Hammond was found not guilty because of his state of mind.

"It's absolutely traumatic, it's like a kick in the guts really, there's no remorse," he said.

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"The perpetrator doesn't even have a criminal record when they're released."

Herron said there had to be some recognition they actually committed the crime.

The father is now campaigning for the current sentence of 'not guilty because of mental impairment' to be replaced with the wording: 'act proven, but not criminally responsible'.

Derryn Hinch's Justice Party today introduced a motion to the government.

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"There's no excuse to be saying this is complex this is complicated difficult for us to do," Justice party MP Tania Maxwell said.

The change in wording would bring Victoria in line with NSW, which amended its laws following a similar campaign in 2020.

"Victims are united in supporting this change in legislation, it's not a difficult thing and we hope that can prevail," Herron said.

"The wording is critical."

Four senior ministers are expected to announce their retirement from politics at this year's state election, forcing a major cabinet reshuffle.

The ministers include; deputy premier James Merlino, health minister Martin Foley, police minister Lisa Neville, and sport and tourism minister Martin Pakula.

All ministers made statements to parliament this afternoon reflecting on achievements within their respective portfolios.

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Planning minister Richard Wynne also announced his retirement ahead of the state election.

"We have good ministers going forward and I look forward to the rejuvenation of our cabinet," he told 9News.

"James has been a wonderful friend and minister. The work he has done in education has been quite extraordinary."

The changes will mean that Victoria will have its fourth health minister in four years.

Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce the retirements tomorrow.

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Around 200,000 revellers have packed into the Glastonbury Music Festival in England.

Australia's inventor of the bikini, Paula Stafford has died aged 102, almost 80 years after her iconic swimsuit made history on a Gold Coast beach.

Now a commonplace icon of Australian beach culture, Stafford said she had no idea her 'two piece,' would cause such a stir.

The self-made design made its debut in Surfers Paradise in 1943, sending shockwaves through the conservative Queensland community.

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"I didn't believe it was going to be as big as it has been or what a tremendous impact it had when I started manufacturing them," Stafford said in a past interview.

"They started at Surfers, it's a natural place where they should be shown – bikinis worn on the beach in Surfers Paradise and everywhere in Australia."

The piece, known previously as the 'French swimming costume' was created by cutting a one-piece in half, at a time when swimsuits were becoming skimpier due to fabric shortages during WWII.

Soon, Stafford's pieces were being shown in places like London and New York, the designer- who previously wanted to be an architect, making a name for herself in the fashion world.

But in the 1950s, Stafford's colourful and skimpy pieces would still garner stares.

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In 1952, model Ann Ferguson was asked to leave Surfers Paradise beach by inspectors while wearing a Paula Stafford two piece.

Eventually, the trend caught on, cementing Stafford's fame as the pioneer of the Australian bikini.

"The town clerk said it's ok and the police liked it too so all was well and Surfers Paradise became the beach that anyone could wear anything anytime," Stafford said.

"The joy of making people happy is worth every minute of time you give, overnight… all night sometimes."

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Stafford passed away peacefully this morning.

On the Gold Coast, locals are honouring her legacy.

Baslyn Beel said Paula Stafford designed her first bikini, adding she pleaded with her family to let her wear the risque item.

"I had to convince my mother that times were changing," she said.

"Everyone's figure is different and she would always make them to match us.

"It was an absolute icon from a fabulous lady."

Regina King said Stafford would create custom pieces from her boutique near the beach and was never afraid to push boundaries.

"She didn't care how small she had them and that was back then," she said.

"We'd see all the fabulous fabrics there all floral cottons and you'd pick out your colour and she'd have it made when you finished on the beach.

"Paula was buzzing around, always happy she really was a wonderful woman."

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Samsung has been hit with a $14 million fine by Australia's consumer watchdog for misleading claims about how waterproof their phones are.

Samsung claimed their S7, S7 Edge, A5 (2017), A7 (2017), S8, S8 Plus and Note 8 Samsung Galaxy phones could be submerged in pool or sea water in eight ads.

But Samsung did not disclose the phones' charging ports would become corroded if they were charged while still wet.

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ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said they had received hundreds of complaints.

"Samsung Australia's water resistance claims promoted an important selling point for these Galaxy phones," she said.

"Many consumers who purchased a Galaxy phone may have been exposed to the misleading ads before they made their decision to purchase a new phone."

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She said many consumers had their phones stop working entirely after getting wet.

The ACCC said Samsung was aware of charging port corrosion issues when it launched their advertising campaign.

The ads showed people swimming in pools and the ocean with their phones, touting their water resistance.

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Samsung has admitted their ads contravened Australian Consumer Law.

There are more than 3.1 million Galaxy phones in Australia.

People who suffered phone damage after getting them wet are urged to contact Samsung Australia.

In a statement to 9News.com.au, Samsung noted the issue does not affect their current models.

"The seven smartphones models were tested extensively to assess their water resistance  capabilities, prior to launch, including tests in pool and sea water," the statement read.

"The phones would display  a warning message to discourage consumers from attempting to charge the phones while  water was in the charging port.

"The phones also had inbuilt systems to minimise the  prospect of corrosion if the phones were attempted to be charged while water remained in  the charging port."

The company said models of Galaxy phones launched after March 2018 did not have a "material prospect of corrosion".

"Samsung endeavours to deliver the best possible experience to all its customers," the statement read.

"Samsung  regrets if any Galaxy users have experienced an issue with their device as a result of the  matters covered by this case."

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