Barnett tells tree man to 'give up' - The West Australian

AS POSTED HERE ----> Barnett tells tree man to 'give up' - The West Australian

Premier Colin Barnett weighed into the ongoing Thornlie tree man saga, saying it was time Richard Pennicuik climbed out of his tree and let the City of Gosnells cut down his home of the past three months.

The council will be keeping "a watching brief" on supporters of Mr Pennicuik who had been joining him for stints in the tree.

A spokesman said the council "was not going to stand at the bottom of the tree" but if someone was there on a regular basis then they could also be in line for prosecution.

Mr Pennecuik's friends and supporters had called on the Premier to intervene in the long-running battle to save the yellow-scented gum that the council claims is too dangerous to remain standing but Mr Barnett was not exactly on-side.

"What? Climb up the tree and drag him down?" said Mr Barnett when asked if he would intervene.

"That's what I'd like to do. Look, I think he's made his point. I think everyone's getting a bit tired of the tree man."

Mr Barnett said the State Government was not going to get involved in the stand-off but had some words of advice for Mr Penneciuk.

"Give up and let the tree be chopped down," he said.

Mr Pennicuik said he had been joined in the tree with a supporter, who he declined to name, but he had gone down by midday.

He maintained the platform was built over the weekend while he was sleeping.

A Gosnells spokesman said lawyers were still preparing a writ to be been lodged with Armadale Magistrate's Court seeking a fast-tracked court date for a hearing on charges Mr Pennicuik was obstructing the council by remaining in the tree.

Mr Pennicuik said he had no intention to come down in the immediate term. He was not concerned but “annoyed” at the council's prosecution.