Pat Lanigan

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Lanigan (19251992) was a senior Australian public servant and administrator.

Life and career Pat Lanigan was born on 20 February 1925 in North Fitzroy, Victoria, the son of a Victorian Railways worker. He was raised in Hampton, Victoria, attending the St Kilda Christian Brothers College and later the University of Melbourne.

Between September 1943 and December 1946, during World War II, Lanigan served in the 2/5th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, in New Guinea. During his time at the head of the department he made control of benefits abuses a high priority. Lanigan was managing the department when he heard allegations that eight medical practitioners and at least 500 persons of Greek background were involved in rorts costing the department revenue of between $2.5 million and $5 million per year.