00:01They are extremely disappointed.
00:03They've said that they are basically gutted seeing the charges that we're expecting to
00:09be put forward today.
00:10Like you say, they amount collectively, the two of those charges, to less than a year
00:15jail time and a maximum $1,600 fine.
00:19If these people are found guilty, they may not even have to pay that much money.
00:23That's the maximum.
00:24We've heard from Mark Jones, one of the fathers of one of the young women you just mentioned
00:28who tragically passed away in 2024, here's what he had to say about the charges they're
00:33expecting today.
00:34It's unacceptable that the passing of our daughter, her best friend Holly and three other beautiful
00:43women, lives come down to the potential maximum outcome of a one year in jail and $1,600.
00:54So Claudia, what has the federal government had to say in response this morning?
00:57Well, they're disappointed too.
00:59They've said in a statement that they would have liked to have seen authorities pursue
01:03harsher charges.
01:04It's something that they have lobbied for as well.
01:06Now, the families of Bianca and Holly have also been calling on the Prime Minister, Anthony
01:10Albanese, to personally intervene and to contact his counterpart to ask for harsher charges.
01:16We understand that DFAT, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has advised the families
01:21that local prosecutors don't think they have enough evidence at this time to pursue harsher
01:27charges.
01:28But Mark Butler, the health minister speaking with News Breakfast this morning, explained
01:33that the Australian government remains frustrated with the investigation.
01:36We understand this is a very poor country.
01:39So if they had trouble gathering the evidence and having a full investigation, we made it
01:44really clear we were willing to provide resources from our federal police to help them do that,
01:49which they unfortunately rejected.
01:50So this latest news will be devastating for Holly and Bianca's parents and family and friends.
01:57I think devastating for the broader Australian community.
02:01Mark Butler, the health minister there.
02:03And like he said, Catherine, this does sound like it will be very devastating, not only for
02:06the families, but also everybody who knew Holly and Bianca.
02:09We are expecting to hear more from their parents later this afternoon.
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