Australia appoints Special Envoy to probe Laos methanol poisoning deaths

Australia has appointed a Special Envoy to progress the investigation into the fatal methanol poisoning of two young Australian women in Laos, after formally protesting the penalties slapped on those involved. Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, both aged 19, died after they were served alcohol laced with methanol at Nana Backpacker Hostel in November 2024. Two Danish women, a US tourist and a British woman also died. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced she had appointed diplomat Pablo Kang in the position to “continue our efforts for progress in the investigations”. “Since their November 2024 deaths, the Albanese Government has been clear to the Lao authorities of the need for transparency and accountability,” Senator Wong said. “We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals.” Senator Wong has asked Mr Kang to depart for Laos “as soon as possible this week and explore all avenues to progress the case”. Mr Kang currently heads the Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has previously served as ambassador to Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates and High Commissioner to Vanuatu. “We understand the heartbreaking grief of the families of Holly and Bianca, which has been exacerbated by the delays and lack of transparency over the legal processes in Laos,” Senator Wong said. She said Australia would “continue to press” Lao authorities on Holly and Bianca’s cases and will continue to support their families in their pursuit of justice. Canberra formally protested against the penalties slapped on those responsible earlier this week. Last month, 10 staff were found guilty of destroying evidence, with each person receiving a suspended sentence and a $185 fine. No further charges will be laid but a man from the distillery where the spirits were made could face legal action. The action came after a lengthy police investigation and has sparked outrage from the families of the victims, who demanded Labor ramp up diplomatic pressure on Laos. The girls’ fathers, Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones, earlier on Tuesday revealed they were not kept in the loop during a court case at The People’s Court of Vang Vieng. Speaking to Nine’s Today Show, Mr Jones said the outcome was “devastating”. “Every day is tough, and when you get news that we received last week that our daughters’ lives are valued at $185 it’s pretty devastating,” Mr Jones said through tears. Mr Bowles said his family found out about the fines through the parents of British backpacker Simone White – who also died from methanol poisoning at the hostel at the same time as Holly and Bianca. “Simone’s father Neil sent us through a message that he got from the British authorities and passed it on to all of us,” Mr Bowles explained. “Unfortunately that’s how we found out about the outcome.” Mr Bowles said that given six people died as a result of the mass methanol poisoning, for fines of just $185 to be distributed was a complete “disappointment”. “To think that the Laos authorities believe that those who were involved in killing our daughters is worth $185 is absolutely disgraceful,” Mr Jones said. “We can’t get into the country. There’s nothing more we can do. We need the government to do something because we are out of options,” Mr Bowles said. Grilled during Question Time this week, Anthony Albanese said the young women’s deaths were “an absolute tragedy”. Speaking about how the families learned of the penalties, the Prime Minister said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has apologised unreservedly for their failure to ensure that the families were informed and that is an entirely appropriate thing for them to do”. “The Foreign Minister’s 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.