Aboriginal interpreters call for police engagement after inquest finding

Aboriginal Interpreting WA is calling for better engagement from WA Police. (Supplied: Deanne Taylor)

Aboriginal interpreters are renewing calls for greater police engagement, years after Gene Gibson's wrongful conviction for the murder of Josh Warneke.

A coronial inquest into the death of Mr Warneke has made recommendations about police use of interpreters.

WA Police said strategies had already been introduced to strengthen support for Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Fifteen years after Gene Gibson was wrongfully convicted for the murder of Broome tradesman Josh Warneke, Aboriginal interpreters say they are still overlooked by WA Police.

Despite speaking Pintupi as a first language, not English, Mr Gibson was not provided with an interpreter for his initial police interview.

The Kiwirrkurra man subsequently spent five years in prison before he was acquitted in 2017.

AIWA interpreters previously visited Mr Warneke's memorial, which is based on Old Broome Road where he died. (ABC Kimberley: Mya Kordic)

A coronial inquest into Mr Warneke's murder, and the botched police investigation, has recommended further training for police officers regarding the use of interpreters.

Aboriginal Interpreting WA (AIWA) chief executive Deanne Lightfoot said Mr Gibson's case highlighted the serious consequences of failing to engage an interpreter.

Ms Lightfoot said an interpreter was available at the time of Mr Gibson's interview, but was not called upon.

Deanne Lightfoot says Aboriginal interpreters cannot be seen as "optional". (Supplied: Deanne Lightfoot)

"We were knocking on their door asking for them to have an interpreter on their investigation team," she said.

"We also advocated for a re-interview with an interpreter, but unfortunately, that didn't occur either."

AIWA chairman Desmond Taylor said Mr Gibson's experience could have been very different had an interpreter assisted police with the interview.

Desmond Taylor said the issue was with interpreter engagement, not availability. (Supplied: Deanne Taylor)

"This is not about availability, this is about engagement," he said.

Coroner Ros Fogliani found there was a "problematic culture" within Kimberley Police in 2012, where interpreters were not often utilised to assist in police interviews.

"I note that since that time, WA Police have taken measures to ensure that interviewing police officers are aware of the need to consider the appropriateness of an interpreter," Ms Fogliani found.

Gene Gibson was freed in April 2017 after spending five years in prison. (Suppli