<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/government" rel="" target="_blank" title="government"><span>government</span></a><span> has appointed a Special Envoy to drive investigations and transparency into the deaths of two Australians in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/laos" rel="" target="_blank" title="Laos"><span>Laos</span></a><span> in 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, two teenagers from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>, as well as four other foreign nationals, were killed when they drank alcohol tainted with methanol at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No one has been held fully accountable for the deaths of the pair, though </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="10 people were fined"><span>10 people were fined</span></a><span> $185 for destruction of evidence in relation to the death of a US citizen last week, fines the families of Bowles and Jones called "absolutely disgraceful".</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>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-arrested-historic-sexual-assaults-using-dna-technology-that-helped-catch-golden-state-killer/ee0ee404-2690-46f0-b211-e4b8779db53b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Tech that ID'd US killer prompts NSW arrest over historic sexual assaults</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Foreign Minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/penny-wong" rel="" target="_blank" title="Penny Wong"><span>Penny Wong</span></a><span> announced the appointment of Pablo Kang as Special Envoy to ensure greater communication and investigations into the deaths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals," she said in a statement this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/parking-fine-south-maroubra-beach-car-park-exclusive/4419ab40-a5b5-42c0-9253-aaf08e201eec" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Phil parked between two white lines but still copped a $140 fine</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/holly-bowles-bianca-jones-deaths-laos-methanol-poisoning-australia-special-envoy-penny-wong/cad01368-2259-417d-ab5d-cb4d65bb3fb9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have asked Mr Kang to depart for Laos as soon as possible this week and explore all avenues to progress the case."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kang heads the Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and has served as Ambassador and High Commissioner to several countries in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/asia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Asia"><span>Asia</span></a><span>-Pacific region and the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="_blank" title="Middle East"><span>Middle East</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/robodebt-class-action-deadline-looms-march/de7c07ce-a00f-4299-b62d-359a0aee651d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Urgent deadline looms for thousands like Justin owed share in $475m</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>DFAT issued an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/holly-bowles-bianca-jones-laos-methanol-poisoning-dfat-apology/946050b7-def7-4fd3-a037-12baca46176f" rel="" target="_blank" title="apology"><span>apology</span></a><span> to the Bowles and Jones families this week after failing to inform them of the court findings. They were only informed through other victims' families.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong acknowledged the pain the delay of justice and accountability has caused the families.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/angus-taylor-expected-to-resign-from-coalition-frontbench-leadership-spill/5d97a3e2-9666-44f4-9364-8bc864675ea5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Taylor quits frontbench to set up Liberal leadership battle with Ley</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="_blank" title="Albanese"><span>Albanese</span></a><span> Government will continue to press the Lao authorities on Holly and Bianca's cases and will continue to support their families in their pursuit of justice."</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>