1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Already and this is the daily This is the daily ya, 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: this is the dailyahs. Oh, now it makes sense. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: Good morning and welcome to the Daily Os. It's Tuesday, 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: the twenty sixth of November. I'm Emma, I'm Billy. Two 5 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: nineteen year olds from Melbourne, Holly Bowls and Bianka Jones 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: are among six people who have died from a suspected 7 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 2: methanol poisoning incident in Lao. The Australians were visiting a 8 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 2: tourist town in the Southeast Asian country when they fell ill. 9 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 2: They were rushed to separate hospitals in Thailand, where they 10 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 2: died late last week. Speaking to media from Thailand after 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: the death of his daughter, Bianka's father, Mark Jones said 12 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: his teenager was enjoying the trip of a lifetime with 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: one of her best mates. 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 3: This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories. 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 3: Will forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:00:59,959 Speaker 3: of life is not. 17 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: The suspected poisoning has claimed to the lives of tourists 18 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: from Denmark, the US and the UK In what's now 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 1: become a multinational investigation. Authorities in Lao have conducted raids 20 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: and detained people for questioning, but no one has been 21 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: charged yet. First, Emma, I think we should start with 22 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: methanol for those of our listeners, and I include myself 23 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: in this because I'm not super familiar with methanol. What 24 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: is methanol poisoning? 25 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: Okay, So, methanol is a colorless liquid chemical. It's typically 26 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: found in things like petrol cleaning products, and it has 27 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: a sweet scent. So to look at methanol, to smell methanol, 28 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: you wouldn't know that it wasn't alcohol that was safe 29 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: to drink, So unlike ethanol, ethanol is the chemical present 30 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: in drinking alcohol. But methanol is toxic to humans. It's 31 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: highly dangerous to consume and even a small amount of 32 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: it can cause vomiting, an abdominal pain, and of course 33 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: we know from this week's reports it can be lethal. 34 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: So how would a person know if they have consumed it. 35 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: It can be confusing at first for someone who has 36 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 2: methanol poisoning because they might become sick or seem intoxicated, 37 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 2: and they might confuse that with the effects of drinking 38 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 2: alcohol of ethanol poisoning, so they may not even really 39 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 2: know they have consumed methanol. 40 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: So the really serious symptoms aren't immediately present. 41 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: Exactly, or they seem similar to the serious symptoms of 42 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: ethanol poisoning, right, But the main toxin in methanol can 43 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: actually cause brain damage. It can impact the way that 44 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: the human body cells produce energy. Blindness is another common 45 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 2: side effect of methanol poisoning, and this damage can occur 46 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 2: quite rapidly, which is kind of back to the heart 47 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: of the issue of identifying it in the first place. 48 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: If diagnosed early, methanol poisoning can be treated, so that's 49 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: within the kind of ten to thirty hours of ingestion 50 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 2: after that fact, So if you can catch it within 51 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 2: the ten to thirty hours, a person can be treated. 52 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: They might have life saving treatment in hospital. But often 53 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 2: by the time it becomes clear that a person has 54 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: consumed methanol, they might have already slipped into a coma. 55 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: That's so interesting. I had no idea about any of 56 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: that to do with methanol. I guess my number one 57 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: question now is how does methanol then end up in 58 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: someone's drink. 59 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, in terms of the case we're going to 60 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: explore today, this story that's been dominating headlines there is 61 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: a lot we don't know. It hasn't been confirmed that 62 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: this incident is a methanol poisoning event, but it is 63 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: suspected to be the case. In terms of what we 64 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: know about methanol more broadly, is that it is used 65 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: as a cheap and easy to access alternative to drinking 66 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: alcohol in some parts of the world. So health experts 67 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: suggest that sometimes it's illicitly mixed into more expensive alcohol. 68 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: So you know, a bartender might some methanol with some 69 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: vodka or a spirit so that they can make that 70 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: spirit last longer, go further, so bars and clubs can 71 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: ultimately sell more drinks and make more money. That's why 72 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: some of the advice that you might have seen around 73 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 2: methanol poisoning or about avoiding it is avoiding mixed drinks 74 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: and spirits, buying sealed drinks from bottle shops instead, and 75 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: just being really careful about where that drink has come from. 76 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 2: So if you saw a drink getting made at a bar, 77 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: that's different to kind of I guess going to a 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: bottle shop and buying a sealed can. 79 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: Well, I had no idea about this. I think when 80 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: I heard about this story, I had presumed that someone 81 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: had intentionally poisoned a whole bunch of people. I know 82 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: you've said that we don't know all of the details yet, 83 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: but are you saying that there's a possibility that a 84 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: bar just used methanol as a cheaper alternative to alcohol, 85 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: not knowing that they were perhaps going to be poisoning 86 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: a lot of people. 87 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 2: Well, I think that there are two elements to your question, Billy, 88 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: that kind of can both be true, in that it 89 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: could be that a bar or the hostel in question 90 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: has used methanol as a means to kind of sell 91 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 2: drinks more cheaply. But the idea that a hospitality provider 92 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: wouldn't know about the dangers of methanol is maybe a 93 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: little bit of a harder cell. It's highly likely that 94 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: whoever is involved in this, if it is a methanol poisoning, 95 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 2: it's highly unlikely that they didn't understand that methanol is 96 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: potentially toxic to humans. 97 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: Yes, so they were probably very aware of the consequences 98 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: that using methanol would have had, but it wasn't necessarily 99 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: an intentional killing of people. 100 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we will touch on this a little bit 101 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: more later. But in terms of the victims. So there 102 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: have been six people who have died so far from 103 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: the same believed poisoning in this town in Lao, and 104 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: five of six of them are women. And what the 105 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 2: experts say about methanol poisoning is it often has a 106 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: lot to do with the size, the makeup, the metabolism 107 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: of the person who is consuming the methanol. So you know, 108 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: this is obviously speaking broadly, but women will be more 109 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 2: impacted or impacted differently by certain alcohols and certainly methanol. 110 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: And the argument I suppose is that women are more 111 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 2: vulnerable to becoming extremely ill from methanol. 112 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: We'll be back with the deep dive in just a moment, 113 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: but first here is a quick message from our sponsor. Okay, 114 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: so let's talk about the incident in Lao. It was 115 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: this time a week ago that we started hearing about 116 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: two Ossie teens who had been hospitalized for suspected methanol poisoning. 117 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: Do we know where they got sick? 118 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: Yes, So we first heard this story from three AW 119 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: that's a nine owned Melbourne based radio station, and they 120 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 2: reported that these two nineteen year olds from Melbourne, Hollybowls 121 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: and Bianca Jones, had been hospitalized after a night out. 122 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 2: They were staying in a hostel in the tourist town 123 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: of vang Vien that's two hours outside Lao's capital, Vien Tienne. 124 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: Now everyone involved in the suspected poisoning was also staying 125 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: at this hostel. The Ossie teen's families confirmed to media 126 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: last week the girls were being treated in separate hospitals 127 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: in Thailand for this suspected poisoning default. The Department of 128 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had been providing help to 129 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: these families, and then, very sadly, on Thursday, Prime Minister 130 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: Anthony Albanezi confirmed Bianca Jones had died. He called it 131 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: a terrible and cruel loss. Her family provided a statement 132 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: to The Herald's Son, the Melbourne based newspaper, saying Bianca 133 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: was quote surrounded by love when she passed away in Thailand, 134 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: and they said, we are comforted by the knowledge that 135 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time 136 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: with us. 137 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: And then on Friday night news broke that a second 138 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: Australian had died. What do we know about her death exactly? 139 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 2: So Friday evening we heard this terrible news of a 140 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: second death in relation to a suspected methanol poisoning in Lao. 141 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 2: Like her friend Bianka Jones, Holly bowls tied after this 142 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: suspected poisoning, also in a Thai hospital. A statement from 143 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: the nineteen year old's family said, it is with broken 144 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: hearts and we are so sad to say that our 145 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 2: beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. Holly was living 146 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 2: her best life, traveling through Southeast Asia, meeting new friends 147 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: and enjoying incredible experiences. 148 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: I get chills hearing you read out that statement. You 149 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: can't even imagine what the families are going throughout the moment. 150 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just horrific. And I've been the nineteen year 151 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 2: old in Southeast Asia. I went to Lao at the 152 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: same age and had an amazing time and met wonderful 153 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 2: people from all over the world. It's such a rite 154 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: of passage to go on those holidays and to find 155 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 2: your independence in that way, and just a turn of 156 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: events that no one could have imagined. 157 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: There have also been several other deaths, all tourists, as 158 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: you said before, were staying at the same hostel in Lao. 159 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: Do we know about them? 160 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 2: Okay, yep. So there are the six tourists in total 161 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 2: who have died. We've got the two young Ausi's Holly 162 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 2: in Bianca. There's also a twenty eight year old British woman, 163 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: two Danish women aged nineteen and twenty, and one fifty 164 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: seven year old American man. They have all passed away. 165 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: A New Zealander is also believed to be among several 166 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: others who were hospitalized with suspected methanol poisoning, all staying 167 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 2: at that hostel. Local media over in New Zealand confirmed 168 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: that that person did return home yesterday, but it's not 169 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: clear how many others are sick, how serious their conditions 170 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: may be. Last week there were media reports on the 171 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: ground of at least ten people who were in hospital. Again, 172 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 2: we just don't know for sure the scale of how 173 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 2: serious their conditions may be, so how unwell everyone is, 174 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: and if all of these people were spiked with methanol. 175 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 2: We do know that they were staying at the Nana 176 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 2: backpackers hostel before they became sick, and this hostel, Dell 177 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: is now kind of at the center of inquiries. 178 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: I want to turn to the investigation side of things. 179 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: What has the response been like on the ground in Lao. 180 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: Have we heard from the government or the policer. 181 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: We have now, but there has been some criticism surrounding 182 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 2: this response, so on the ground in vang Vieng and 183 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: more broadly from the national government. We did get a 184 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: statement on Saturday from the Lao government, but that was 185 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 2: the first that we'd officially heard from the government, and 186 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 2: police have been accused of failing to be transparent on 187 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 2: their inquiries, of not acting quickly enough. The Foreign Affairs 188 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: Ministry in Lao did release that statement on Saturday, saying 189 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: it was profoundly saddened by the deaths of foreign tourists 190 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: and that authorities were quote conducting investigations to find causes 191 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 2: of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice 192 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 2: in accordance with the law. Mark Jones, he's the father 193 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 2: of that Australian teenager Bianca who sadly passed away. We 194 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: had previously called for more action from authorities before we 195 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 2: got that statement. 196 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 3: I would like to take this opportunity to urge the 197 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 3: allow government to investigate this to the forced extent. We 198 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 3: can't have the passing outed order not lead the change 199 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 3: to protect others. 200 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: Have you heard anything from the hostel so the BBC 201 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: reported on Monday the hostel has been closed and a 202 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 2: nearby bar, which is called JD's, has also been raided. Now, 203 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: for all intents and purposes, the owners the operators of 204 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 2: these venues have denied any involvement any wrongdoing, have denied 205 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 2: serving any illegal or homemade alcohol. There are reports that 206 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: this hostel in question, though, gives guests a free shot 207 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: of alcohol when they check in, so I suppose there 208 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 2: are questions now about where that alcohol comes from, what 209 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 2: that alcohol actually is. The hostel has, of course, as mentioned, 210 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 2: denied serving any illegal beverage. The owners of the hostel 211 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 2: were arrested on Friday and taken into custody for questioning, 212 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: but no charges have been laid, so it's not clear 213 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: if police are just questioning them as part of their 214 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: investigations or if those hostel owners are suspects. The Associated 215 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 2: Press has reportedly spoken with local police who told them 216 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 2: that a number of people had been detained. But again 217 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: we are waiting on details and there's still so much 218 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: we just don't know. 219 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 1: What about the Australian government, what role do they play 220 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: in the investigation here? 221 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 2: So we know from defat as mentioned earlier, they're providing 222 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 2: assistance to the two families of the Australian women, and 223 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 2: that will include assistants to bring the girls back to 224 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: Australia so to recover Holly and Bianca's bodies bring them 225 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: home for a funeral. Here nine has reported that officers 226 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: from the Australian Federal Police are conducting their own inquiries 227 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: on the ground in Thailand and Lao now. On the 228 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 2: traveler side of things for any Aussies heading to Lao, 229 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: Defat did update it's smart Traveler website last week. The 230 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 2: travel advice for Australians heading to Lao now includes a 231 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 2: warning that the dangerous chemical methanol may be present in 232 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 2: spirit based drinks. So it says Australians have been victims 233 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 2: of suspected cases of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks, 234 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: So just a warning for travelers to be extra aware 235 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 2: if they are heading to Lao on Friday night. The 236 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: Prime Minister said this should have been a trip filled 237 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: with joy and wonderful memories. He called it beyond sad 238 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 2: that it is not to be true, and Albaneze said 239 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: the government would continue supporting these families of the young 240 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: Australian women and working with local authorities. They are Melbourne girls, 241 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 2: so we've heard from the Victorian Premiers into Alan she 242 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 2: expressed her condolences on x She described the situation as 243 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 2: devastating and said she was thinking of everyone who loved 244 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 2: Holly and Bianca. 245 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: I also saw a vigil in Melbourne over the weekend. 246 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: What has the community response to the deaths of these 247 00:13:59,080 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: two girls men. 248 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've seen a really huge outpouring of tributes both 249 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 2: online and in person. That was as vigil on Sunday, 250 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, Billy, which was attended by around one 251 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 2: hundred people. Now we've also learned that Holly and Bianca 252 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 2: were really keen footy players, loved their Aussie Rules and 253 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 2: they were part of the Bomars Football Club, so that's 254 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: their local club based in the southern suburbs of Melbourne. Players, coaches, 255 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: officials and other community representatives have all sort of banded 256 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 2: together to pay tribute to these two young women. They 257 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 2: won the premiership for their club in twenty twenty two, 258 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 2: so the flag from that win has been flown at 259 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 2: half mast, the club said in a statement as a 260 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: sign of solidarity and unity and in memory of both 261 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 2: Holly and Bianca, our women's team, have started tying blue 262 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 2: and yellow ribbons the club colors in and around their 263 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: homes and throughout the community. The girls jerseys are being 264 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: retired by the club, and they've been remembered as skillful players. 265 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: But there is a little bit of insight into what 266 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: they were like as people in these state from the 267 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 2: club that I just wanted to share with you. So, 268 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 2: the club has described Holly as quiet and unassuming. Quote 269 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 2: she didn't crave attention, yet her kindness, grace, and beautiful 270 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: soul made her someone everyone admired and respected. They said 271 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: that Bianca's infectious charm and tenacity made her a fondly 272 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 2: regarded teammate and friend. Her smile, exuberance, and happy nature 273 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: made her a delight to be around. Now, Billy, this 274 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 2: story is obviously continuing to evolve by the day, and 275 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: as we learn more about the circumstances surrounding these deaths, 276 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 2: we will continue to keep you updated over on the 277 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 2: daily Ods. 278 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: They sound like two amazing girls who the community were 279 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: very lucky to have such a devastating story. And like 280 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: you said, Emma, so many of us have been those 281 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: nineteen year old girls just traveling the world and you 282 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: never expect anything like this to happen exactly. Thank you 283 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: so much for explaining today. Thank you so much, Billy, 284 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: and thank you so much for listening to this episode 285 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: of The Daily os. A bit of a heavy one today, 286 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: but we hope that we were able to break that 287 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: down for you and answer some of the questions that 288 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: you might have had when you have been seeing that 289 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: story around. Thank you so much, and we'll be back 290 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: again tomorrow. My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a 291 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: proud Arunda Bungelung Kalkuton woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily 292 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on the lands 293 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: of the Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal 294 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: and Torres Strait Island and nations. 295 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 3: We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries, 296 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 3: both past and present.