Trigger warning: this post briefly touches on fillicide and may be triggering for some readers. Please proceed with caution.
It’s only March, and already, Australia provesxwe have a long way to go in how we treat peoole with a disability.
In January, autistic brothers, Otis, 14 and Leon, 16: Clune died in a suspected murder – suicide in Mosman Park, Western Australia. A disability support worker found a note warning her not to go inside.
Over the next month, reporting and commenting on the case was swift, both in mainstream and social media. It highlighted how people view disabled people, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in this country.
Many TikTok creators who had ASD, pointed out the differences on how this case was reported, compared to the murder of non – disabled/ non – neurodivergent children.
Cases of fillicide against non – neurodivergent and non – disabled children is met with swift condemnation, with very little analysis on why it occurred. Suggestions that the killer snapped is immediately met with outrage.
Conversely, people were quick to empathise with the parentsMalwenna Goasdoue and Jarrod Clune.
News.com.au even had the gall to quote a parent, calling Leon a “monster”. There is no way anyone would say that about a neurotypical child.
Media slams NDIS participants for getting “haircuts” and “going to cafes”
This article infuriates me.
Luke Kinsella wrote an inflammatory headline in the Financial Review, accusing NDIS participants of using NDIS funds for going to cafes and getting haircuts. Only later did Luke Kinsella admit that the NDIS funds covered support wotker, not the activity itself.
Funding for social and community partticioation enables NDIS participants to have carersaccompany them on faily activitiesoutside the home such asg9ing to the shops, getting a haircut, seeing a movie, or going for a walk, although it does not include the cost of the activity itself.
(‘NDIS soends $12b on support for walks, movies,haircuts’, Luke Kinsella, Financial Review, 15 March 2026).
TikTokers have also pointed fingers at anti – CCP creator, Drew Pavlou on sensational coverage of alleged fraud in the NDIS. To his credit, from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t attack NDIS participants themselves, but raises concerns on the legitimacy on some NDIS providers. And, unlike Kinsella, it doesn’t seem like he’s out to ragebait, using the disabled community.
Employers admit discriminating against disabled job seekers
The only surprise is that some employers admit it.
According to ABC, 19% of employers admitted they reject potential candidates with a disability. Around 70% have also admitted they discriminate based on race, mental illness and age.
I have a suspicion that a lot more employers just didn’t admit they discriminate against people with disability.
Content creator and aspiring musician, Jay Morgan have pointed out that many employers covertly discrininare against disabled people by mandating having a driver’s license, even if it’s not really required for the job. They’re right.
The discrimination against disabled people has been going on for years, despite governments offering wage subsidy incentives, which are given by employment agencies.
So, what is the answer? Honestly, I think Australia has a massive attitude problem. Councils, the media, employers and, frankly people in general think disabled people are just burdens.
Employers just see cost of having disabled employees despite evidence proving that diversity, including people with disabilities, actually are a net positive to businesses. The penalties on discrimination need to be so severe that it’d be better for businesses not to discrimunate.
The days of ‘education’ ate over. Some people have disabilities, get over it!
P.S. On a positive note, one company that does treat people with disabilities brilliantly is Virgin Australia. I can’t fault them.
