Afternoon Update: Morrison-era multibillion-dollar mistake; airport safety concerns continue; and remembering Johnny Young

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/13/afternoon-update-newsletter-best-daily-news-email-guardian-australia-free-sign-up?CMP=cvau_sfl&CMP=au_sfl">Sign up for the Afternoon Update here, and start your day with https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/23/morning-mail-newsletter-best-daily-news-email-guardian-australia-free-sign-up-inbox-subscribe?CMP=cvau_sfl&CMP=au_sfl">our Morning Mail newsletter.

Good afternoon, and happy Friday.

The controversial Morrison-era https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/14/morrison-era-gst-deal-western-australia-23bn-mistake-productivity-commission">GST deal with Western Australia has been criticised by the Productivity Commission, which says it was a costly mistake that should be reversed and that tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money has since gone to the country’s richest state.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/14/sydney-airport-virgin-qantas-flights-runway-saftey-incident-report">Sydney airport incident involving Virgin and Qantas flights didn’t have to be reported, Airservices Australia says

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/aug/14/singer-johnny-young-australia-host-talent-time-dead-cancer">Johnny Young, host and creator of Young Talent Time, dies aged 79

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/14/north-sydney-swimming-pool-closed-days-after-reopening-122m-redevelopment">North Sydney pool closed and drained a week after much-hyped reopening following $122m overhaul

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/14/alan-jones-trial-alleged-victim-broadcaster-eggs-soldiers-ironed-underpants-court-ntwnfb">Alleged victim of Alan Jones made broadcaster soft-boiled eggs with soldiers and ironed his underpants, court told

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/14/taiwan-taipei-internet-blackout-air-raid-drill-china-threat">‘TikTok wouldn’t open at all’: Taiwan simulates an internet blackout, with an eye on China threat