The political future of Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John is in doubt after the West Australian took leave from his party room amid allegations about his personal behaviour towards female colleagues.
Several party members have raised formal complaints about the senator making inappropriate comments to women over a decade, which will now be investigated by the WA Greens in an “independent” process.
Greens leader David Shoebridge said his party took the concerns “extremely seriously” and had accepted his colleague’s request for leave as Senator Steele-John strenuously denies the claims made against him.
“When matters like this are raised, they require a fair, an independent, and a timely process for them to be dealt with,” Senator Shoebridge told reporters in Canberra standing alongside deputy leader Steph Hodgins-May.
“The WA Greens are commissioning that process, and the matter has been referred across to the WA Greens for that process. Senator Steele-John has indicated to me that he sought leave from the party room, and I’ve accepted that request,” he said.
Senator Shoebridge confirmed he had received a letter on Tuesday written by seven party members outlining how the group was aware of “multiple allegations” involving Senator Steele-John.
The Australian Greens leader was also pressed on whether he knew about a motion passed by the New South Wales Young Greens chapter in 2018 noting concerns about Senator Steele-John’s conduct.
“I do not recall having any involvement at all in that, and I don’t think people would expect an upper house MP in a state parliament to have any role in that,” the former NSW MP responded.
Responding to the allegations, Senator Steele-John declared in a statement that he “utterly reject this characterisation of me, which tries to assert I am someone I am not”.
“I have referred this matter to the WA Greens, so that a fair, independent process can be commissioned that upholds the principles of natural justice and ensures procedural fairness for everyone involved,” he said.
“These claims are made without specifics. Any allegation of this nature is extremely serious and must be treated accordingly. If someone has made an allegation, I am prepared to address it.
“The letter says that victims of sexual and family violence should be at the centre of any investigation. I agree. In the one complaint of which I have been made aware, I am the person who experienced family violence.
“I believe an allegation arises from a former relationship in which I was the victim of extensive, prolonged and deeply distressing domestic abuse,” the politician, who uses a wheelchair, said.
“While I know disabled people in Australia are roughly twice as likely as people without disability to be abused, I missed the early warning signs of coercive control, and it took people close to me to realise that I was experiencing domestic abuse.
“I have been working with WA Police to address the abuse I have experienced. As this process is ongoing, I do not feel able to go into more detail at this time.”
The Greens leader was also questioned about a matter involving Senator Steele-John that he understood had been “subject of consideration by the police” but cautioned that sometimes “there are circumstances where it’s not appropriate to make that public”.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald the letter sent to the Greens leader this week outlined “multiple allegations” of inappropriate behaviour by Senator Steele-John alleged to have occurred between 2017 and 2025.
“These allegations all concern his behaviour in the presence of women. We are aware of multiple women who have taken up roles or volunteered in the party, who because of these allegations, have been warned not to … be alone with him,” the authors reportedly said.
“These warnings have come from inside and outside the party, demonstrating that knowledge of his alleged reputation extends beyond party membership and out into the community.”
The Greens staffers who formally complained have reportedly also claimed that inside Parliament House Senator Steele-John has a widely used nickname which reflects his alleged inappropriate behaviour, but the Greens leader declined to say if he was aware of it being used.
It is unclear whether Senator Steele-John is also taking leave from Parliament but revelations about the allegations has sparked discussion inside the Greens about whether he may now leave politics.
Asked if he expected to see his colleague return to Parliament before the end of the year or resign, Senator Shoebridge responded: “I think all those matters are getting well ahead of the core issue here, which is a fair, independent, and timely process”.
Inside the Greens discussions have begun on whether Senator Steele-John will return to Parliament if he is cleared by the investigation that will be run by the party’s WA division, or if a replacement will be needed.
Party figures have privately suggested that Greens member Sophie McNeill, a former journalist and now upper house member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, could take Senator Steele-John’s place in the Senate if he resigns from Parliament.
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