Australia Sends Special Envoy to Laos Amid Outrage Over Backpacker Deaths
Australia will send a special envoy to Laos to investigate the deaths of two young Australian women who died from methanol poisoning while backpacking in the country in 2024. The move comes after growing criticism of the lenient penalties handed down to individuals connected to the incident and concerns over a lack of transparency from Laotian authorities.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced the appointment of seasoned diplomat Pablo Kang on Thursday, following an apology from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade earlier this week for not providing more information to the families of Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones. Kang has been tasked with “exploring all avenues to progress the case” surrounding their deaths.
Morton-Bowles and Jones, both 19 and from Melbourne, were fatally poisoned with methanol while drinking at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng in late 2024. The incident was part of a larger outbreak of methanol poisoning that claimed the lives of at least six foreigners, including a British woman, a US tourist, and two young Danish women.
The families of Morton-Bowles and Jones expressed outrage after learning that ten individuals linked to the poisoning faced court in January and were fined just $185 for destroying evidence. No charges have been laid in connection with the deaths themselves.
“Since their November 2024 deaths, the Albanese government has been clear to the Lao authorities of the need for transparency and accountability,” 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.”
Kang, currently the head of the Southeast Asia regional and mainland division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will depart for Laos as soon as possible. He has previously served as Australia’s representative in Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu.
Shaun Bowles, the father of Holly Morton-Bowles, has urged Australians to reconsider traveling to Laos, expressing concerns about safety in the country.
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to summon the Laotian ambassador for a “formal explanation” regarding the “weak prosecutions.” Albanese acknowledged in parliamentary question time that the recent court developments had “added to the heartbreak” of the families.
The appointment of a special envoy signals a heightened level of Australian concern and a determination to seek greater clarity and justice in the wake of this tragedy. The focus now shifts to Kang’s efforts to engage with Laotian authorities and pursue a more thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the young Australian women and the other victims.
