<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> government has apologised for failing to keep the families of two Australians who died in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/laos" rel="" target="_blank" title="Laos"><span>Laos</span></a><span> from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/laos-methanol-poisoning-laos-nana-hostel-staff-fined/792d176b-d633-4d69-9bdd-c7669c0761b6" rel="" target="_blank" title="methanol poisoning"><span>methanol poisoning</span></a><span> updated on a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="_blank" title="court"><span>court</span></a><span> case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The People's Court of Vang Vieng in the southeast </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/asia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Asian"><span>Asian</span></a><span> country fined 10 people $185 for their roles in the deaths at Nana Backpacker Hostel in 2024, after guests were served </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/alcohol" rel="" target="_blank" title="alcohol"><span>alcohol</span></a><span> tainted with methanol.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The findings were made in secret, but the families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, two 19-year-old Australians who died, only found out about the decision from other victims of the poisoning instead of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/isaac-herzog-visit-live-updates-sydney-protests-latest-news-headlines/ac0c2b2f-cd41-4a0a-abdf-ea20837c5cc3" target="_blank"><strong><span>NSW Premier defends police after 'incendiary' mass protest</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The department "apologised unreservedly" to the families for failing to keep the families properly informed of proceedings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Department prides itself in its commitment to consular service and to ensuring that the interests of consular clients and their families are paramount. On this occasion, we fell short of our aspiration," a statement published this morning said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EPSTEIN FILES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-ghislaine-maxwell-declines-to-answer-questions-from-house-committee-citing-5th-amendment-rights/d4743541-1405-4013-bde5-58102cf93ec8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Ghislaine Maxwell cites fifth Amendment as she declines to answer inquiry</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/holly-bowles-bianca-jones-laos-methanol-poisoning-dfat-apology/946050b7-def7-4fd3-a037-12baca46176f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australian officials continue to underscore our expectations of a thorough and transparent investigation and that there is justice for Holly and Bianca."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fathers of Bowles and Jones had previously expressed their frustration with being kept in the dark as the court case went underway behind closed doors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>ROYALS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/king-charles-speaks-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-jeffrey-epstein/17dd1139-1978-4063-aa32-1d5199f1c658" target="_blank"><strong><span>King Charles' explosive declaration as police probe brother's Epstein links</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As citizens of this country we expect the government to look after their people and get justice for their citizens when they go travelling," Mr Jones told 9news yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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 added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The accused were charged late last month for destroying evidence, with those verdicts relating to the death of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span> citizen who also drank the tainted alcohol at the hostel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></p></li></ul></div></div>