The murder of two innocent Autistic boys at the hands of their parents in Mosman Park has left communities in shock and the disability community grieving. WA Police are investigating the incident as a suspected murder‑suicide, after the bodies of the parents and two boys (aged 14 and 16) were found at their home following a welfare concern and the discovery of a note at the premises.
This tragedy comes after 24 months of relentless disability reform pushed by the Federal government, despite warnings from disability advocates that the rapid, haphazard implementation would result in harm for disabled people. These widespread concerns about the accelerated pace of NDIS reforms and the wave of reassessments are being felt across the country. Families, Autistic people, and disability advocates describe increasing administrative pressure, severely inadequate communication, and reduced access to essential supports.
While reforms aim to ensure long‑term sustainability, the speed and manner of their rollout are leaving many without the safeguards and continuity of supports that are essential for safety and wellbeing. In the wake of these tragedies, it is clearer than ever that the disability support system must not place additional stress on people and families already navigating complex barriers.
Mx Choate, YDAN CEO said, “We must be clear that this is murder. Whilst the motive is not yet clear, it is undeniable that the approach to disability reform has created a narrative that disabled people are burdens. We [disabled people] are not burdens. We all deserve to live fulfilling and meaningful lives and tragically, Otis and Leon will never get that chance”.
A Pattern We Can No Longer Ignore: Preventable Deaths and System Failures
Australia has a growing body of evidence showing people with disability face elevated risks of early and potentially avoidable death, and that failures in supports and safeguards can be fatal.
- NDIS participant mortality has been rising, with FOI‑released and analyses indicating a sharp growth in deaths over recent years and highlighting the particularly high risk faced by participants in Supported Independent Living (SIL) settings.
- Annual NDIS participant deaths rose from ~1,456 in 2018 to ~6,012 in 2023, a more than four‑fold increase.
- Mortality rates increased 45% in five years, demonstrating that the spike is not explained by growth in participant numbers alone.
- SIL participants – only 6–7% of the NDIS population – account for 20% of all deaths, meaning they die at 3 – 4× the rate of participants in other living arrangements.
- The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and governments have acknowledged the need for stronger oversight, including work to monitor and address potentially avoidable deaths and to build nationally consistent disability death review arrangements.
- National research continues to show stark mortality inequities for people with disability in Australia – reinforcing that preventable deaths are not rare events but a persistent, systemic outcome.
The data reveals a system failing to keep high needs participants alive, despite the scheme’s intention to protect them. This should be a warning: reforms that destabilise supports, reduce continuity of care, and intensify administrative pressure risk compounding already dangerous conditions for our most vulnerable Australians.
Mx Choate adds, “We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the Clune family – the Disabled community is collectively mourning”. They warn, “It is important to recognise this tragedy for what it is – a direct result of a system that failed these boys, not the result of being disabled. It is heartbreaking to recognise that this is not an isolated incident but a direct result of systemic failures that stripped disabled people of the supports they needed to stay alive. We cannot allow more Disabled people and our families to continue to suffer; the government must act now to stabilise the NDIS, mandate safety, and prevent further preventable deaths.”
Immediate Call: Halt NDIS Reassessments and Pause Rushed Reform
In light of this tragedy and the wider evidence of preventable harm, we call for:
1) An Immediate Halt to NDIS Reassessments
Reassessments must be paused until robust safeguards and continuity mechanisms are in place, and until families can be confident that essential supports will not be withdrawn abruptly or without meaningful review. This includes reviewing the decision for NDIS applications to replace medical evidence with a survey tool administered by people without medical expertise.
2) A Pause on Fast‑Tracked Reform Measures
Reform must be slowed to truly be co‑designed with disabled people, including Autistic people, people with intellectual disability, and people with complex support needs – especially those reliant on intensive daily supports. This includes the implementation of the Thriving Kids program which was announced to the surprise of states and territories, in August 2025. The Disability Royal Commission’s emphasis on systemic oversight and death review mechanisms underscores the seriousness of what is at stake.
3) A National, Independent Review into Disability‑Related Preventable Deaths
Australia needs transparent, nationally consistent disability death reviews and a commitment to act on findings. Governments have already recognised the importance of disability death data collection and stronger review arrangements; this must be accelerated and fully implemented.
A Duty to Protect Lives
No single decision explains tragedies like what has occurred in Mosman Park. But governments and the institutions responsible for disability supports carry a clear duty: ensure supports, safeguards, and crisis pathways are strong enough to prevent loss of life – and ensure reforms do not destabilise what people rely on to survive.
Mx Choate adds, “This is the moment for leadership that prioritises safety over speed, and human lives over administrative targets.”.