WA Greens Senator to Miss Sitting Week as Party Probe Proceeds

Senator Jordon Steele-John will not attend next week's parliamentary sittings.

The Western Australian Greens representative confirmed the decision after releasing a three-page letter containing allegations against him. The document was sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month and sought an inquiry into claims that Steele-John behaved inappropriately toward women from 2017 to 2025. Steele-John has denied the accusations.

He posted the letter to social media on Saturday afternoon but removed it later that day after the full text circulated online. "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.

Steele-John, 32, said he had considered attending Senate estimates by video but was told that option was "unacceptable". He said he would focus on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion and argued that keeping lawmakers away from parliament over "allegations of allegations" sets a precedent. "Had an allegation or complaint been made against me, I would have taken these actions immediately," he said.

The letter, dated 13 October and first published by Nine newspapers, said its authors had been "made aware of multiple allegations of serious misconduct" regarding his behaviour around women. It included an allegation of sexual harassment at a 2024 Greens campaign event, which the complainant had not reported for fear of backlash, and a 2025 claim of serious sexual misconduct raised by a former partner. Steele-John said Western Australian police investigated the latter and closed the matter in May with no charges laid.

The complaints are now under independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens, and they have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. Shoebridge said Steele-John requested leave and that he accepted it last week, after seven party members wrote asking for an investigation; Steele-John has denied agreeing to take leave. In a statement last Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations and accused an "unofficial faction" within the WA branch of leaking the letter to media in an effort to remove him from the Senate.