Green Senator to Absent Himself From Parliament Amid Misconduct Probe

Western Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John will not attend parliament next week as an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct against him continues. The 32-year-old legislator confirmed his absence on Saturday, marking a significant change in his schedule during a critical period of parliamentary business. His decision follows a public release of a confidential letter containing the complaints, which he has since removed from social media.

The senator apologized for sharing the three-page document online, stating that he believed the full letter was already circulating and did not want to appear as if he were avoiding scrutiny. He acknowledged that his initial decision to publish the text may have caused additional stress for the parties involved. The letter, dated October 13, was originally sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month. It detailed multiple allegations of serious misconduct regarding Steele-John's behavior in the presence of women between 2017 and 2025.

Steele-John has denied all claims made in the letter. In a statement posted late Friday night and later deleted, he explained that he had considered joining Senate estimates hearings virtually. However, he was informed that this arrangement would also be considered unacceptable. He said he would now focus on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion. He noted a growing chorus of voices calling for his absence from the chamber and argued that a precedent had been set for keeping parliamentarians away during such reviews.

The senator argued that if a formal allegation or complaint had been lodged directly against him, he would have taken the same steps immediately. He emphasized that he is following the process to ensure a thorough review. The dispute over his attendance has been compounded by a disagreement with party leader David Shoebridge regarding whether Steele-John is officially on leave. Shoebridge stated that the senator requested leave, which was accepted last week after seven party members wrote urging an investigation. Steele-John has denied agreeing to take leave, adding to the confusion surrounding his status.

The complaints are currently under an independent investigation commissioned by the Western Australian Greens. They have also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The original letter cited an allegation of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024. It noted that the alleged victim had not reported the incident at the time due to a fear of backlash. The letter described another instance of serious sexual misconduct in 2025.

Steele-John later clarified that the 2025 allegation was raised by a former partner. He stated that the matter was investigated by Western Australian police, which resulted in a finding of no charges. Police confirmed that the investigation was closed in May with no charges laid. The letter also mentioned a disparaging nickname for the senator, feels on wheels, which the authors suggested indicated a reputation for inappropriate behavior. They stressed that an allegation does not equate to fact or guilt and believed it was in the party's interest for every claim to be thoroughly examined.

In a lengthy statement issued last Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations and accused an unofficial faction within the Western Australian branch of leaking the letter to the media. He described the leak as an attempt to remove him from the Senate and characterized the actions as nasty political games. He maintained that any claims about his behavior should be investigated fairly and thoroughly. His team is now preparing for the upcoming parliamentary session, where his absence will be noted.

The investigation is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission playing a key role in assessing the complaints. Party officials are monitoring the situation closely to determine the next steps. For now, the focus remains on the independent process, with Steele-John staying out of the chamber to allow the review to proceed without distraction. The outcome will likely influence his role in the Senate for the remainder of the year.