Jordon Steele-John to Miss Next Week's Senate Sittings

Jordon Steele-John confirmed he will not attend parliament next week. The Western Australian Greens senator made the decision after apologizing for publicly sharing a confidential letter that detailed allegations against him. He has denied all claims made in the document.

On Saturday afternoon, Steele-John removed a social media post containing the three-page letter. The letter had been sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier this month. It called for an investigation into allegations that Steele-John behaved inappropriately toward women between 2017 and 2025. He said he saw the full letter circulating online and did not want to appear as if he were hiding from it. "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.

In a statement posted late Friday night and later deleted, the 32-year-old explained that he considered joining Senate estimates virtually. He was told that arrangement would also be "unacceptable." He stated he would focus on seeing an independent investigation through to its conclusion. He noted a "growing chorus" calling on him to stay away. He argued a precedent had been set 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."

His attendance for the rest of the year had been uncertain following a public dispute with Shoebridge. The two disagreed on whether Steele-John was on leave during the investigation. Shoebridge said Steele-John asked for leave and that he accepted it last week. This happened after seven party members wrote to him urging an investigation. Steele-John has denied agreeing to take leave.

The complaints are now the subject of an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens. They have also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter, dated 13 October, said its authors were aware of multiple allegations of serious misconduct regarding his behavior in the presence of women. It described an allegation of sexual harassment at a 2024 Greens campaign event. The alleged victim had not reported it for fear of backlash.

Another allegation referenced "serious sexual misconduct" in 2025. Steele-John said this was raised by a former partner and investigated by Western Australian police. Police told him the investigation 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 behavior. They stressed that an allegation does not equate to fact or guilt.

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 move as playing "nasty political games." He said any claims about his behavior should be investigated "fairly and thoroughly."