Families left in the dark after methanol deaths

July 18, 2026 — 3:01pm

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The one thing we can be sure Laotian authorities have done well in their apparent investigation into the 2024 poisoning deaths of Australian backpackers Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones has been to behave contemptuously to the grieving families in Melbourne.

No one from Laos has called the parents to give them updates, assurances or even condolences. Information has arrived piecemeal from Australian authorities or from similarly grieving families overseas.

The latest disrespect was to refuse a request by Australian embassy staff in the capital of Vientiane to record a press conference on Friday directly relating to the young women’s deaths. International media was blocked from attending altogether.

“We will nevertheless attend and record proceedings,” the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, showing some welcome grit, wrote to the families on Thursday. “We have also requested an English transcript from the Lao authorities and will continue to press for any supporting material that can be shared.”

Some questions of the Laotian authorities were actually asked by foreign diplomats, including from DFAT, and even the Australian Federal Police. Not much of a “press” conference.

The backpacking friends from Melbourne died after drinking shots containing methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the party town of Vang Vieng. An American man, two Danish women and a British woman, all of them guests at the same hostel, were also killed, while many more became seriously ill.

Shaun Bowles, the father of Holly, told this masthead during the week that it was hard to put their disappointment into words. “We’ve had so many conflicting stories from the Lao authorities,” he said.

Bianca Jones’ mother, Michelle, said it was like........

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