Senator Steps Aside From Parliament Pending Misconduct Probe

Australian federal politics is bracing for a period of disruption as a prominent senator announces he will withdraw from the legislative process while serious allegations are reviewed. Jordon Steele-John, who represents Western Australia for the Greens, has confirmed he will not attend parliament for the coming week. This decision comes alongside a public apology from the senator regarding the unauthorized release of a document outlining specific complaints about his conduct.

The controversy centers on a three-page letter sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month. The correspondence called for an investigation into allegations that Steele-John behaved inappropriately toward women over a period spanning from 2017 through 2025. Steele-John has denied all of the claims contained within the document. On Saturday, he removed a social media post that had featured the letter after realizing the full text was circulating widely online.

In his explanation for the apology, the senator stated that he did not want to appear as though he was hiding from the contents of the letter. However, he conceded that sharing it may have been a misstep. "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," he said regarding the publication of the material.

Regarding his absence, Steele-John issued a statement late Friday night which has since been deleted. He mentioned that he had considered participating in Senate estimates proceedings virtually, but was informed that such an arrangement would be unacceptable. He stated he would focus on ensuring the independent investigation reaches its conclusion. He noted a growing chorus calling on him to stay away from parliament and argued that a precedent has been established for keeping parliamentarians out after "allegations of allegations". He added, "Had an allegation or complaint been made against me, I would have taken these actions immediately."

There has also been a public disagreement regarding the nature of his current status. David Shoebridge indicated that Steele-John had requested leave and that this was accepted last week, following a letter from seven party members urging an investigation. Steele-John, however, has denied agreeing to take leave at that time. His attendance for the remainder of the year remains uncertain as the situation develops.

The specific allegations detailed in the letter, dated 13 October, are being handled by an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens, and the matter has been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter stated its authors had been "made aware of multiple allegations of serious misconduct" regarding Steele-John's "behaviour in the presence of women". It listed an allegation of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024, noting the alleged victim had not reported it at the time for fear of backlash.

Another allegation in the document referred to "serious sexual misconduct" in 2025. Steele-John later stated this was raised by a former partner and was investigated by Western Australian police, resulting in a finding of "no charges". Reports have 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, "feels on wheels", which the authors said suggested a reputation for inappropriate behaviour, while stressing that "an allegation does not equate to a fact and/or guilt".

In a statement issued the previous Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations and accused an "unofficial faction" within the WA branch of leaking the letter to the media in an attempt to remove him from the Senate, describing it as playing "nasty political games". He said any claims about his behaviour should be investigated "fairly and thoroughly". The next steps involve the progression of the independent investigation, which will determine the outcome regarding these claims and the senator's future participation in parliamentary activities.