Steele-John to sit out Senate week while misconduct review concludes

Jordon Steele-John will not attend the Senate next week. The Western Australian Greens senator confirmed his absence on Saturday, coinciding with the final phase of an independent review into misconduct allegations against him. He will miss four sitting days, including the first Senate estimates hearing of the session.

Steele-John apologized for publicly sharing a confidential letter that detailed the claims against him. He removed a social media post containing the three-page document on Saturday afternoon. The letter, sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge in early October, outlined reports of inappropriate behavior toward women between 2017 and 2025. Steele-John said he removed the post because he was unsure if it was the right move. "I am really sorry for any additional stress it caused," he wrote.

The senator stated he would focus on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion. He noted that he considered attending estimates virtually but was told it would be unacceptable. He pointed to pressure from party members who wrote to Shoebridge urging an inquiry. Steele-John argued that a precedent had been set for keeping parliamentarians out after allegations are made, stating he would have taken the same actions immediately if a formal complaint had been lodged against him.

The allegations are now the subject of a formal independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens. The matters have also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter cited a specific claim of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024. It also mentioned a separate allegation of serious sexual misconduct in 2025, which Steele-John said was raised by a former partner. Western Australian police closed that investigation in May with a finding of no charges.

Tensions within the party remain high following a public dispute over Steele-John's status. Shoebridge said he accepted a request for leave from the senator last week. Steele-John has denied agreeing to take leave, though his attendance for the rest of the year remained uncertain before this week's confirmation. The senator rejected the claims in a statement last Sunday, accusing an unofficial faction of leaking the letter to remove him from the Senate.