David Farmer has been the General Manager of Wollongong City Council since June 2007.
This appointment represented a return to his hometown – he graduated from the University of Wollongong in 1987.
Before serving Wollongong Council, he was Mudgee Shire Council’s General Manager between 1998 and 2000, and CEO Cairns City Council from 2000 and 2007.
At the time of the ICAC enquiry, Mr Farmer told ICAC he was "astonished and appalled by the revelations of this public inquiry."
“We knew there was an investigation going on into corrupt activities, and we’d been working with, or providing information to, the ICAC and so with that we were able to put together some sort of an idea about what issues were going to be raised,” Mr Farmer said.
“And on the information that we’d been providing we felt it was going to be a reasonable contained issue about misbehaviour of one or two people.”
Moving forward from the events of 2008, Mr Farmer said he believed Administrators were an important way to cleanse the Council of a corrupt culture.
“What you get with administration is highly experiences public officials guiding you and driving you forward – getting a lot of things done,” he said.
“The shock treatment of the removal of the Council gives a real opportunity for a healthy rebirth of democracy.”
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Administrators vs. elected council - the General Manager's perspective
What is the future of democracy in Wollongong?
Extended interview
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