Melbourne youngsters Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, each aged 19, died after ingesting tainted alcohol within the vacationer city of Vang Vieng in November.
Zoe Daniel, impartial MP for Goldstein, in the present day requested parliament for an replace on the progress within the Laos police investigation on behalf of Holly’s father, Shaun.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated the Australian Federal Police (AFP)’s supply of assist had to this point been refused by Laos officers.
“What occurred to Holly and Bianca struck on the coronary heart of the nation,” Marles stated.
“The AFP has made a proposal to the authorities in Laos to supply their help within the investigation, and there’s a complete lot of functionality the AFP may convey [in terms of] this investigation.
“I’ve to report sadly to the home that at this level the Laos authorities haven’t taken up that invitation on the a part of the AFP.”
The Jones and Bowles households stated in an announcement they have been “extraordinarily dissatisfied” within the lack of updates.
“Because the Laos authorities rejects any help from the AFP our confidence in accountability and justice for everybody affected stays unanswered,” the assertion learn.
Marles stated the federal government and Australian police stay in fixed contact with the Laos authorities and the supply of assist will probably be raised once more.
He assured the Bowles and Jones households the AFP wouldn’t drop the matter.
“However I’d need to guarantee the households of Bianca and Holly that we stay in touch with the Laos authorities,” Marles added.
“We are going to proceed to press Laos to pursue this investigation and we’ll proceed to supply the help of the Australian authorities by the AFP.”
Marles added International Minister Penny Wong was additionally following up along with her counterpart in Laos.
Bowles and Jones’s dad and mom, together with the households of different vacationers who died from poisoning on the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Laos, instructed 60 Minutes they’d been left at the hours of darkness.
“We have heard nothing. So I am unable to be assured about something,” he stated.
Shaun, Holly’s father, added: “For them to not attain out is, that is simply not ok.”
