‘Suspiciously cheap’: Poison warning for young Aussie travellers

The Federal Government launched a dedicated advertising campaign today to reach young Australians, targeting social media platforms and specific destinations like Southeast Asia.

Travellers will be provided with information on how to protect themselves from drink spiking and ensure broader alcohol safety, including understanding the risks and looking out for their mates.

Smartraveller will ALSO establish a new online safety hub in June, featuring resources designed for schools, universities, and parents.

The campaign will ramp up ahead of schoolies and peak travel times. 

“The families of Holly and Bianca are foremost in my mind today, and also the many families of other Australians who have lost loved ones,” Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said.

“We want our children to be curious and explore the world – but above all else, we want them to be safe.

“These efforts will help young Australians travelling overseas to protect themselves from methanol poisoning, drinking spiking and other alcohol harms.”

It comes as the investigation into the deaths of the two Australians remains ongoing and silent.

Bowles and Jones’s parents, along with the families of other tourists who died from poisoning at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Laos, told 60 Minutes they had been left in the dark.

“We’ve heard nothing. So I can’t be confident about anything,” he said.

Shaun, Holly’s father, added: “For them not to reach out is, that’s just not good enough.”

The Federal Government has called for a “transparent and thorough investigation”.

“We continue to press Lao authorities for progress on the investigation,” a government spokesperson said.