Senator Jordon Steele-John to sit out parliament while misconduct review proceeds

Jordon Steele-John, the Greens senator from Western Australia, has confirmed that he will not be present in parliament during the upcoming sitting week. This decision comes as he issues a public apology for releasing a confidential internal letter that detailed specific allegations against him. While the senator denies every claim made in the document, his absence from the chamber marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute surrounding his conduct and his standing within the party.

The situation escalated over the weekend when Steele-John removed a social media post that contained the full three-page letter. The document, originally sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month, called for an investigation into claims that the senator behaved inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. Steele-John explained that he posted the letter because he had heard it was circulating online and did not want to appear as if he were hiding from the information. He admitted that he is now unsure if sharing it was the correct move and expressed regret for any additional stress the release caused.

In a statement posted late Friday night and subsequently deleted, the 32-year-old senator noted that he had considered attending Senate estimates hearings virtually. However, he said he was informed that remote participation would also be considered unacceptable. He stated that his focus will now be on seeing an independent investigation through to its conclusion. He pointed to a growing chorus of voices calling for him to stay away from parliament, arguing that a precedent had been set for keeping politicians out after allegations of allegations. He added that if a formal complaint had been lodged against him, he would have taken these same actions immediately.

The uncertainty over his attendance has been compounded by a public disagreement with David Shoebridge regarding his leave status. Shoebridge stated that Steele-John requested leave, which the leader accepted last week after seven party members wrote to him urging an investigation. Steele-John, however, has denied that he agreed to take leave, creating a conflicting narrative about the procedural steps taken by the party leadership.

The complaints are currently the subject of an independent investigation commissioned by the Western Australian Greens. Additionally, the matter has been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter, dated October 13 and first published by the Nine newspapers, stated that its authors were made aware of multiple allegations of serious misconduct regarding the senator's behavior in the presence of women. It detailed an allegation of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024, noting that the alleged victim had not reported the incident for fear of backlash. No further details were provided in the document.

A second allegation referenced in the letter concerned serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John later clarified that this claim was raised by a former partner and had been investigated by Western Australian police. He noted that the police found no grounds for charges. It has been confirmed that police informed him the investigation was closed in May with no charges laid.

The letter also cited a disparaging nickname for the senator, described as feels on wheels. The authors argued that this moniker suggested a reputation for inappropriate behavior. They emphasized that an allegation does not equate to fact or guilt, but maintained that it was in the party's interest for every claim to be investigated thoroughly.

In a lengthy statement released 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 insisted that any claims about his behavior should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

The next steps will depend on the findings of the independent investigation and the parliamentary standards commission. For now, the senator will remain absent from the chamber, focusing on the review process while the party navigates the internal dispute over his status and the handling of the allegations.