Maithri Panagoda AM's work with Indigenous Australians has made history
A collection of 25 essays has been published to recognise the life and work of Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers partner Maithri Panagoda AM.
Panagoda has been in the profession for 40 years, and is notable for his work with Indigenous Australians. Among the contributors to the collection, entitled Pursuing a Vision of Justice, are Justices Peter Hamill SC and Dr Saleem Marsoof, PC; Indigenous leader Barbara Flick and Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers managing partner Hanaan Indari.
The authors discuss Panagoda’s upbringing and education in Sri Lanka, as well as his early stint with the Western Aboriginal Legal Service in Dubbo that would pave the way for his work with members of the Stolen Generations. Over the course of his career, Panagoda helped them to obtain compensation for their forced removal.
In 1995, Panagoda won the inaugural compensation case for families of death in custody victims in NSW.
“What Australian legal history remembers as a landmark decision has afforded the Indigenous Australian community of today the power to exercise their legal rights in challenging government, and the hope of compensation, victory and justice,” Indari wrote.
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC participated in the book launch, which was held at NSW Parliament House on Friday.
