Senator Steele-John Absents Himself From Parliament Amid Misconduct Probe

Jordon Steele-John, the Greens senator from Western Australia, has confirmed he will not attend parliament next week while a formal investigation into misconduct allegations against him continues. The 32-year-old politician apologized for his recent decision to share a confidential party letter publicly, stating that he regrets the additional stress it may have caused colleagues and the public.

Steele-John removed a social media post on Saturday afternoon that included the full text of a three-page letter. That document had been sent to Greens leader David Shoebridge earlier in the month. The letter outlined multiple complaints regarding the senator's behavior toward women between 2017 and 2025. He explained that he shared the document because he believed the full text was already circulating online, and he did not want to appear as though he were hiding from the claims.

In a statement posted late Friday night, which has since been deleted, Steele-John noted that he had considered attending Senate estimates hearings virtually. However, he was informed that remote participation would also be viewed as unacceptable. He stated his focus will now be on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion. He referenced a growing group of voices calling for his temporary absence and argued that a precedent had been established for keeping parliamentarians away after allegations are raised, even if those allegations are still under review.

The senator's attendance status had been uncertain following a public disagreement with Shoebridge regarding his leave status. Shoebridge stated that Steele-John had requested leave, which was accepted last week after seven party members wrote to the leader urging an inquiry. Steele-John has disputed that he agreed to take leave, maintaining a different account of the administrative process.

The complaints are currently under review by two separate bodies. The Western Australian branch of the Greens has commissioned an independent investigation, and the matter has also been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. The original letter, dated October 13, indicated that the authors were aware of multiple serious misconduct claims concerning the senator's behavior in the presence of women.

Specific details in the letter included an allegation of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024. The alleged victim reportedly did not report the incident at the time due to fears of backlash. Another claim referenced serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John later clarified that this specific claim was raised by a former partner and had been investigated by Western Australian police, resulting in no charges being laid. Police confirmed the investigation was closed in May with no charges.

The letter also mentioned a disparaging nickname for the senator, described as suggesting a reputation for inappropriate behavior. The authors emphasized that an allegation does not equate to 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 Western Australian branch of leaking the letter to the media. He characterized the leak as a political maneuver to remove him from the Senate and insisted that all claims be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

Steele-John plans to remain focused on the inquiry process while staying away from the parliamentary floor for the coming week. The outcome of the independent investigations will determine the next steps for his role in the Senate and his standing within the party. The matter remains a significant point of discussion among working families and civil rights advocates who follow the conduct of public officials.