Steele-John Skips Senate Sittings While Misconduct Inquiry Proceeds

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John will not attend parliament next week, a decision he confirmed as he apologized for publicly releasing a confidential letter detailing allegations against him. The 32-year-old Western Australian senator denied all claims of inappropriate behavior.

Steele-John removed a social media post on Saturday afternoon that contained the three-page letter. The document, sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month, requested an investigation into alleged misconduct toward women between 2017 and 2025. Steele-John said he believed the full letter was circulating online and did not want to appear as if he were hiding from it. He acknowledged, "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."

Late Friday night, Steele-John posted a statement noting he had considered joining Senate estimates virtually but was told it would be "unacceptable." He stated he would focus on seeing an independent investigation through to its conclusion. He cited a "growing chorus" urging his absence and argued that a precedent had been set for keeping parliamentarians out following allegations. "Had an allegation or complaint been made against me, I would have taken these actions immediately," he wrote in the statement, which has since been deleted.

His attendance had been uncertain following a dispute with Shoebridge over his leave status. Shoebridge said he accepted Steele-John's request for leave last week after seven party members urged an investigation. Steele-John denied agreeing to take leave. The complaints are now under independent investigation by the WA Greens and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

The letter, dated 13 October and first published by Nine newspapers, stated its authors were aware of "multiple allegations of serious misconduct" regarding his behavior in the presence of women. It described a sexual harassment allegation at a 2024 Greens campaign event, which the alleged victim did not report due to fear of backlash. Another allegation referenced "serious sexual misconduct" in 2025. Steele-John said this claim was raised by a former partner and investigated by Western Australian police, resulting in no charges. Police confirmed to Guardian Australia that the investigation closed in May with no charges laid.

The letter also cited the nickname "feels on wheels," which the authors said suggested a reputation for inappropriate behavior. They emphasized that an allegation does not equal guilt and believed thorough investigation served the party's interests. In a lengthy statement on Sunday, Steele-John rejected the allegations and accused an "unofficial faction" within the WA branch of leaking the letter to remove him from the Senate. He described the situation as "nasty political games" and said any claims should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

Steele-John is scheduled to miss the upcoming week of Senate sittings while the independent review continues.