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Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles both died after drinking tainted cocktails in Laos. (Supplied)

The federal government has called in the Lao ambassador in Canberra as the families of Melbourne teenagers killed in a mass methanol poisoning incident criticise its response. 

Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones were among six tourists who died after drinking tainted cocktails in Laos in 2024. 

The prime minister has promised to support the families. 

Link copiedShareShare articleThe Australian government has called in the Lao ambassador in Canberra, amid criticism of the country's response to a fatal methanol poisoning.

It comes as the families of Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles criticised the Australian government for its lack of communication, as well as the "silence" and "inaction" from Lao authorities. 

The two women, both aged 19, died following a mass methanol poisoning incident at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist destination in Laos, in November 2024. 

Two Danish women, an American man and a British woman also died in the incident.

In January, 10 people linked to the hostel were found guilty of destroying evidence in a Lao court.

They were fined an amount Holly and Bianca's fathers, Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones, understood to be $185 and given suspended sentences. 

To date, no-one has been charged over the women's deaths, with the destruction of evidence charges only relating to the death of the US tourist.

On Monday night, at the direction of Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) made representations to the Lao ambassador in Canberra, while Australia's ambassador to Laos made representations to the Lao government in the nation's capital, Vientiane.

Today, the DFAT secretary also called in the Lao ambassador in Canberra.

Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones say they are disgusted with the sentences given to 10 people implicated in the mass methanol poisoning. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)

Mr Bowles and Mr Jones said they felt abandoned by the Commonwealth after only learning of the legal proceedings from the family of British victim Simone White. 

"We were disgusted, really. It's very clear that they want an open-and-shut case so they can just move on," Mr Bowles said on Monday.

A DFAT spokesperson said the department fell short of "ensuring that the interests of consular clients and their families are paramount".

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade apologises unreservedly for the failure to keep the families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones fully informed about the outcomes of the court case relating to the destruction of evidence following the death of a United States citizen at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in November 2024," a DFAT spokesperson said on Monday.

On Tuesday, the government faced mounting pressure to explain the lack of communication to the families, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley labelling it a "disgrace". 

"As a mother, I was devastated to see the father of Bianca and Holly forced to resort to face the national media today because the Albanese government has failed to obtain justice for their beautiful girls," she said.

The prime minister said the federal government would do everything it could to support the teenagers' families.

"The foreign minister's made it clear to her counterpart in Laos that Australia expects full accountability and the charges should reflect the devastating seriousness of this incident," Anthony Albanese said. 

Holly and Bianca's families had called for the Australian government to apply diplomatic pressure on Laos and demand full transparency during the court process.

They also requested an official written explanation from Lao authorities about the court proceedings around their daughters' deaths.  

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