Western Australian Greens senator steps back while misconduct probe unfolds

Jordon Steele-John will not be present in the Australian Parliament next week while an investigation into allegations of misconduct against him continues.

The Western Australian senator made the announcement after removing a social media post that featured a three-page confidential letter. The letter, which had been sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier in the month, outlined claims that Steele-John behaved inappropriately toward women between 2017 and 2025. Although he denied all the claims, he apologized for publicly releasing the document and causing additional stress to those involved.

Steele-John explained that he initially shared the letter because he heard it was circulating online and did not want to appear evasive. He later admitted he was unsure if that was the right decision. In a statement posted late Friday night, which he has since deleted, the 32-year-old noted that he considered joining Senate estimates virtually but was told that approach would also be unacceptable. He argued that a precedent had been set for keeping parliamentarians out following such allegations, stating that he would have taken these same steps immediately if a formal complaint had been made against him.

His absence from parliament had become uncertain following a public disagreement with Shoebridge regarding whether the senator was on leave. Shoebridge stated that he accepted Steele-John's request for leave last week after seven party members wrote to him urging an investigation. However, Steele-John has denied that he ever agreed to take leave, maintaining that he is concentrating on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion.

The complaints are currently being examined by an independent body commissioned by the WA Greens. They have also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The original letter, dated October 13, stated that its authors were aware of multiple allegations of serious misconduct regarding his behavior in the presence of women. It described one instance of alleged sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024, noting that the alleged victim had not reported it for fear of backlash.

The document also referenced a claim of serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John later clarified that this was raised by a former partner and had been investigated by Western Australian police. He noted that police told him the investigation was closed in May with a finding of no charges laid. This confirmation was verified by media sources. The letter also cited a disparaging nickname, feels on wheels, which the authors suggested indicated a reputation for inappropriate behavior.

The authors of the letter emphasized that an allegation does not equate to fact or guilt. They believed it was in the party's best interest for every claim to be investigated thoroughly. In a lengthy statement released last Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations. He accused an unofficial faction within the WA branch of leaking the letter to the media in an attempt to remove him from the Senate. He described the situation as nasty political games and said any claims about his behavior should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.