Australia’s disability discrimination commissioner has condemned “dangerous narratives” surrounding the deaths of teenage brothers Leon and Otis Clune, who were killed in a suspected double murder-suicide in Perth last week.
Otis, 14, and Leon, 16, who lived with disabilities, were found dead at their family home in the Perth suburb of Mosman Park on Friday morning.
Police suspect they were killed in a double murder-suicide by their parents Jarrod Clune, 50, and Maiwenna Goasdoue, 49, whose bodies were also found at the house.
Maiwenna Goasdoue and Jarrod Clune were the parents of Leon and Otis. (Supplied)
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess, a leading disability and human rights lawyer, said she was concerned by some of the commentary she had seen surrounding the case.
“The fact that the children may have been autistic and required supports should not be the basis for any justification of their murder,” she said.
“We’ve seen this play out in similar situations where the narrative has been about the burden of disability on parents and families as in some way to downplay the murder of two children.
“It is a dangerous narrative.”
Speaking generally and without knowing the specifics of this case, Ms Kayess said a lack of adequate support was not justification for family violence.
Rosemary Kayess has criticised what she describes as “dangerous narratives” around a suspected murder-suicide in Mosman Park last week. (
ABC News: Billy Cooper
)
“Families face adverse circumstances and they don’t resort to murdering their children,” she said.
“If people are in crisis they need to be able to find someone to support their children and to keep their family safe.”
‘Their lives have value’
Her sentiments were echoed by Children and Young People with Disability Australia CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.
“It’s really important that we take every opportunity to affirm that children with disability are not a burden,” Ms Kakoschke-Moore said.
Children and Young People with Disability Australia CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )
“Often the framing is that their lives have been very difficult for others to manage.
“But what’s most important is that their lives have value and that the reporting of their death recognise them as human beings and afford them that dignity that they deserve.”
Commissioner Kayess said she hoped there would be a public coronial inquest into the family’s deaths, and that it would lead to more recommendations implemented from the disability royal commission, which handed down its final report in 2023.
“A coronial inquest is required, is the normal process, [and] it will have the right investigative powers,” she said.
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“The disability royal commission concluded that people with disability are systematically devalued, and we need concerted and committed action on these recommendations.”
State MP for the Mosman Park area, Sandra Brewer, is now calling for the government to order the state coroner to hold an inquest into the family’s deaths.
“In speaking to the community in recent days, what is apparent is the deep confusion and concern about what this family may have experienced and why there has been such a terrible outcome,” she said.
“A coronial inquest will assist in providing those answers and recommendations.”
Premier Roger Cook said yesterday the decision on whether to hold an inquest would be made by the coroner.
Mr Cook acknowledged speculation surrounding whether the family was receiving appropriate NDIS and school supports, but called for patience as the police investigation continued.
Speaking at a press conference today, Federal Disability Minister Mark Butler said the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) was cooperating with police.
“It’s an awful tragedy at so many different levels but particularly the loss of two children’s lives who obviously did not choose to die is an unspeakable tragedy,” he said.
Mark Butler says the NDIA is assisting police with their inquiries into the deaths of the family members. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
“I know there’s been a bit of commentary over in Western Australia about the NDIS packages that these children were on. I don’t want to say anything that would impact the police investigation.
“I want to give people confidence that the NDIA (…) is cooperating fully with the police to the extent that they have any useful inputs to the police investigation.
“I know the NDIA will do everything it can to assist the police in its inquiries.”
In a Facebook post yesterday, WA’s Disability Services Minister Hannah Beazley wrote that she was devastated by the tragedy and wanted to “remind everyone that help is available”.
Maiwenna Goasdoue cuddles her son Otis. (Supplied)
The post was flooded with hundreds of comments from parents of children with disability expressing exasperation.
“Help is not readily available,” wrote one user.
“It’s an insult to every person on a waiting list, or anyone contesting a reduction or denial of funding, or asked to produce just one more piece of evidence for you to ‘remind everyone that help is available’,” wrote another.
Ms Beazley said she has been meeting with the disability community and sector in recent days and had heard “a range of views, including shock and devastation”.
“My focus right now is on supporting our disability community, which is experiencing incredible sadness and loss,” she said in a statement.
“I do also want to say that people with disability have incredible value, and contribute and enrich so many facets of life in WA.”
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