Senator Jordon Steele-John Skips Four Days of Senate Work

Jordon Steele-John will not attend parliament next week, missing four days of Senate sittings as an independent investigation into his conduct reaches its final phase. The 32 year old Western Australian senator confirmed the absence on Saturday, a decision that follows a week of public disagreement with his party leader, David Shoebridge.

Steele-John apologized for publicly posting a confidential letter that detailed the allegations against him. The three page document, dated 13 October, had been sent to Shoebridge earlier in the month. The senator removed the social media post on Saturday afternoon after hearing the full text was circulating online. "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.

The letter outlined multiple claims of inappropriate behavior toward women between 2017 and 2025. It described a specific allegation of sexual harassment at a Greens campaign event in 2024, which the alleged victim did not report at the time due to fear of backlash. The document also referenced a claim of serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John stated this latter claim was raised by a former partner and investigated by Western Australian police, who closed the matter in May with no charges laid.

The senator denied all claims in the letter. He argued that a "growing chorus" of voices called for him to stay away from parliament. He noted that a precedent existed for keeping members out of the chamber after allegations were made, stating he would have taken similar action immediately if a complaint had been filed against him. He rejected the idea that an allegation equates to guilt, emphasizing the need for a thorough review.

Tensions with the party intensified after a public dispute over whether Steele-John was officially on leave. Shoebridge said he accepted a request for leave last week after seven party members urged him to act. Steele-John denied agreeing to take leave, asserting he was working through the process independently. The complaints are now under an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

The senator said he would focus on seeing the independent investigation through to its conclusion. He previously suggested joining Senate estimates virtually but was told that arrangement was unacceptable. The letter he posted also cited a nickname used for him, "feels on wheels," which the authors said suggested a reputation for inappropriate behavior. Steele-John accused an unofficial faction within the WA branch of leaking the letter to remove him from the Senate, describing the move as playing "nasty political games."