Illustration: John Spooner. The release from a Bali prison of the 14-year-old Australian boy convicted of marijuana possession has been met with relief and rejoicing. In the circumstances, the ''Bali Boy'' and his family can consider themselves extremely fortunate. He has avoided the substantial prison sentences delivered to other young Australians convicted of drug crimes in Bali.
Equally, however, he has also avoided the fate of other visitors whose lives have been sacrificed to the allure of Bali's hedonistic fantasy.
Recently, this fantasy claimed another victim. A young Australian celebrating schoolies was electrocuted outside a Bali nightclub. The 18-year-old's death was not simply a tragic accident. It was a symptom of a much deeper malaise in which the island's rapid development as an international tourist destination has far outstripped its capacity to manage public infrastructure, health and safety.
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