The neighbour of two teenagers with autism found locked in their bedroom in 2020, has detailed the horrific conditions they were subject to.
WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.
Seventeen- and 19-year-old Kaleb* and Jonathan* were forced to live in their own filth, wear nappies, eat raw meat, and were locked in their bedroom with only an air mattress for days at a time, at their home in Brisbane's north.
The teens' living situation only came to light when emergency services were called to the property after their father was found dead from a terminal illness in the front yard.
In Brisbane, a neighbour told the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, she befriended the boys and loved them "like a mum".
She noted on one occasion she saw their father unlock their bedroom door, shouting obscenities at them to get ready for school.
The two boys, who are non-speaking, were struggling to stand up to leave their bedroom, slipping on the floor which was covered with faeces and urine.
Imprisoned in squalor
The neighbour said similar occurrences were commonplace.
"Kaleb's nappy would be so full that it would hang down to his knees and he would hold it to keep his dignity," she said.
"When they came out of their room, they would have faeces or urine on their hands and they touch stuff as they went into the shower, so it was just everywhere."
She said the house had been modified to restrict Kaleb and Jonathan.
"There was no handle on the door to the bedroom for the boys.
"It was just a spoon put in there so that it could open and close from the outside.
"When the shower was on, the knobs were taken off.
"He (the father) would just turn it on and leave them in there, he didn't do any soaping or scrubbing."
She noted the gas at the house had been turned off to save money, so there was no hot water.
The boys were forced to share a bedroom and one air mattress, with no blankets or pyjamas.
"Kaleb would have red legs and swollen legs from curling up to be warm in winter."
The neighbour told the royal commission she would often see the teenagers, who were found severely malnourished, fed raw sausages.
On one occasion, she was told to give them roast chicken that was stored in a cupboard, that had a fly in it. She refused.
'He knew all the things to do'
The neighbour told the royal commission Kaleb and Jonathan's father knew how to game the system when government officials came to visit.
"He did tell me at one point that if Child Services came all you had to do was fill up your fridge.
"Also, that the people at the school would write wash me under the arm of children to make sure that they're being washed.
"He knew all the things to do that seemed like everything was okay."
She said the Department of Housing came to inspect the property twice but didn't enter the house either time.
She noted the father consumed alcohol and illicit substances most days.
The neighbour said she can no longer see Kaleb and Jonathan as they are in the care of the State.
"I just hope the boys have a really wonderful life from now on because they definitely deserve it," she said.
It's the 33rd and final public hearing of the royal commission, examining the nature and extent of violence, abuse, and neglect experienced by people with a disability, and the failure of natural safeguards and government departments and agencies to prevent such events.
The hearing continues.
* Not their real names.
