Steele-John Skips Senate Week After Publicizing Internal Misconduct Letter

Jordon Steele-John has confirmed he will not attend parliament next week, a decision that follows his public apology for releasing a confidential letter detailing misconduct allegations against him. The 32-year-old Greens senator from Western Australia denied all claims while acknowledging the timing of the letter's release added stress to the process.

The sequence began earlier this month when a three-page letter was sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge. The document, dated 13 October and first published by Nine newspapers, outlined multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women spanning 2017 to 2025. On Saturday afternoon, Steele-John removed a social media post containing the full letter after realizing it was circulating online.

In a statement posted late Friday night, Steele-John explained that he had considered attending Senate estimates virtually but was told this would be unacceptable. He cited a growing chorus of voices urging his absence and noted that a precedent existed for keeping parliamentarians out following allegations. He stated that had a formal complaint been made, he would have taken similar action immediately.

The senator’s attendance for the rest of the year has been uncertain due to a dispute with Shoebridge over whether he is on official leave. Shoebridge said he accepted a leave request last week after seven party members wrote to him urging an investigation. Steele-John has denied agreeing to take leave, maintaining that he is focusing on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion.

The complaints are currently under review by an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens and have also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The letter described an allegation of sexual harassment at a 2024 Greens campaign event, noting the alleged victim did not report it for fear of backlash. It also referenced serious sexual misconduct in 2025, which Steele-John said was raised by a former partner and investigated by Western Australian police with a finding of no charges.

Steele-John rejected the allegations in a lengthy statement last Sunday, accusing 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 argued that any claims about his behavior should be investigated fairly and thoroughly. The letter also cited a disparaging nickname, feels on wheels, which its authors said suggested a reputation for inappropriate behavior.

The next scheduled parliamentary sitting is next week, where Steele-John will be absent. The independent investigation remains ongoing, and the outcome of the referral to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission is pending.