The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has apologised to the families of two young Australian backpackers who died from methanol poisoning in Laos after they were left in the dark about a court case related to their deaths.
Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were backpacking through Laos in late 2024 when their trip took a tragic turn.
The pair from Melbourne were fatally poisoned with methanol while drinking on a night out at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng.
At least six foreigners died during the mass poisoning event in November 2024, including British woman Simone White, a US tourist and two young Danish women.
Holly’s father Shaun Bowles said there had been a lack of information from the Australian government about the investigation by Laotian authorities into his daughter’s death.
Bowles and Bianca’s father Mark Jones said they were relying on a group chat with White’s family for updates from the UK government due to a lack of communication from Australian authorities.
The families then learned that 10 people connected to the hostel faced court in January and were fined $185 for destroying evidence.
Those involved were also given suspended sentences, according to the group chat.
Despite the Laotian court’s minor sentence for the related case, no charges have been pressed over the Australian backpacking pair’s deaths.
“We feel that there hasn’t been enough pressure put on the Laos government,” Bowles told 3AW on Tuesday.
“We can’t get into the country, we’re out of options — we need the government to help us.”
Bowles suggested young travellers should forget about Laos and focus on other nations.
“Don’t go,” he said.
“We’ve seen first-hand. They have no appreciation of life and they’ve shown that by sweeping this under the carpet.”
While the families initially believed the court case was linked to the deaths of their daughters, the DFAT confirmed the destruction of evidence charges only related to the American tourist’s death.
The department has since issued an apology to the families for failing to keep them informed about the court outcome, admitting they “fell short of our aspiration”.
‘Australia expects full accountability’, PM says
In Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was appropriate that DFAT apologised for the communication failure.
“The foreign minister has made it clear to her counterpart in Laos that Australia expects full accountability, and the charges should reflect the devastating seriousness of this incident,” he said.
“We will continue to engage Laos authorities on those cases and we will do everything we can to support Holly and Bianca’s families at this distressing time.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who has previously met the vicitims’ families, said processes were adding to their grief.
“You can’t even really call it a punishment, can you? It’s just heartbreaking,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
In a joint statement, Opposition leader Sussan Ley and foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash called for the Laotian ambassador to provide “a formal explanation”.
“The Albanese government must also explain the clear failures of consular support and diplomacy in this instance, and why the families of Holly and Bianca were not kept properly informed of these developments,” they said.
The Laotian government previously vowed to “bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law”.
The Laos embassy was contacted for comment.
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