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The Western Australian Government’s April 2018 announcement of $1.5 million for Gene Gibson described a total allocation—not a $1.5 million lump-sum payment to him. It comprised $1.3 million for a trust for Gibson and $200,000 for Public Trustee management fees. The payment followed the 2017 overturning of Gibson’s manslaughter conviction in the death of Josh Warneke.
How the $1.5 million was allocated
The Government of Western Australia announced on April 18, 2018 that $1.5 million would be allocated in connection with Gibson’s case. Its statement divided that total into two parts:
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| Allocation | Amount | What it covered |
|---|---|---|
| Trust for Gene Gibson | A$1.3 million | Payment assigned to a trust for Gibson. |
| Public Trustee management fees | A$200,000 | Funds set aside to manage the trust. |
| Total allocation | A$1.5 million | The combined amount, not a stated lump sum paid directly to Gibson. |
The state said the payment recognized the miscarriage of justice Gibson suffered. Attorney General John Quigley said: “The State makes this payment in recognition of the miscarriage of justice suffered by Mr Gibson.” The government announcement also cited the flawed investigation, Gibson’s vulnerability, the loss of his liberty and the hardship he experienced.
Why Gibson’s conviction was overturned
Josh Warneke, 21, was found dead beside Old Broome Road in Broome in February 2010 after leaving a nightclub. Gibson, an Aboriginal man from the remote community of Kiwirrkurra, was charged with murder in connection with Warneke’s death. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
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In 2014, Gibson was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The Western Australian Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in April 2017. Legal scholars have described the court’s decision as finding a miscarriage of justice, with Gibson’s limited language skills and cognitive ability central to whether he could understand the legal process and his plea.
Contemporary reporting said police had not provided an interpreter during initial interviews. Those interviews were excluded, and Gibson later challenged whether he had understood his guilty plea. The state also described the investigation that led to the prosecution and conviction as flawed, noting that it had been subject to three reviews.
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How long Gibson was imprisoned
The state’s 2018 announcement said Gibson had spent about four years and eight months in prison. That is the time served cited by the government, distinct from the seven-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2014.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the investigation into Warneke’s death
ABC News reported in 2018 that Warneke’s death remained unsolved, and reported in 2020 that a renewed investigation had started in 2017. Those are dated updates; they do not establish the investigation’s status today. The available reports therefore support a historical account, not a claim about whether the death is currently solved.
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