Steele-John to sit out Senate week as misconduct review enters final phase

Western Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John will not attend parliament next week. He confirmed the absence while apologizing for publicly sharing a confidential letter that detailed allegations of misconduct against him. Steele-John, 32, has denied all claims of inappropriate behavior.

The senator removed a social media post on Saturday afternoon that contained the three-page letter. The document had been sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier in October. It called for an investigation into allegations that Steele-John behaved inappropriately toward women between 2017 and 2025. Steele-John stated he removed the post because he felt the full text was already circulating online. He said, "I'm now not sure that was the right call and I've taken it down. I am really sorry for any additional stress it caused."

The situation began in early October when seven Greens party members wrote to Shoebridge urging an inquiry. Shoebridge stated he accepted Steele-John's request for leave last week. Steele-John disputed that he agreed to take leave, creating a public dispute over his status. His attendance for the remainder of the year had been uncertain following this disagreement. In a statement posted late Friday night, he noted he was told joining Senate estimates virtually was "unacceptable." He said he would focus on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion.

The complaints are now under review by an independent body commissioned by the WA Greens and referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter, dated 13 October, cited multiple allegations. It described a 2024 incident of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event, which the alleged victim did not report due to fear of backlash. Another claim involved serious sexual misconduct in 2025, raised by a former partner. Western Australian police closed that investigation in May with no charges laid.

The letter also mentioned a disparaging nickname for the senator, "feels on wheels." The authors stressed that an allegation does not equal guilt and that thorough investigation was in the party's interest. In a statement last Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations. He accused an "unofficial faction" within the WA branch of leaking the letter to remove him from the Senate. He described the actions as "nasty political games" and said claims about his behavior should be investigated fairly.

Steele-John remains in the Senate but will be absent from sittings during the week starting Monday. The independent investigation continues. The next scheduled step is the conclusion of that review, which Steele-John said he is prioritizing over virtual attendance or in-person debate.