Overview
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Education Minister Jason Clare will unveil the DrinkWise partnership “Drinking? Drink Mindfully” with the parents of Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles in Melbourne.
- The campaign delivers practical advice on methanol risks, moderation and what to do in an emergency through online resources, airports, schools and new in-flight videos on Jetstar from December.
- Smartraveller’s Partying Safely Hub now includes Schoolies cheat sheets for Bali, Fiji, Thailand and Vanuatu, expanding DFAT’s earlier airport messaging and traveller alerts.
- The former Nana Backpackers Hostel’s TripAdvisor listing now reads Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel, with a worker saying it could reopen this month, though no official charges have been filed.
- Families report no accountability despite earlier recommendations to charge multiple suspects; 7NEWS says the Lao prosecutor is considering a police report as Australian authorities continue consular and policing liaison.