Jordon Steele-John says 'I'm not on leave' and accuses Greens leader of making 'bad call' regarding complaints
News Source
β’Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:51:48 GMT
π° What Happened
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says he is not on leave and that leader David Shoebridge made a bad call. He released a six-page statement on Sunday night after complaints about his behaviour towards women became public last week.
Seven former and current party members have asked for an investigation into claims about his conduct between 2017 and 2025. The WA Greens have ordered an independent review, and the matter has gone to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
Steele-John says he wants the claims examined fairly. But he says a faction leaked the letter to push him out.
π The Backstory
Steele-John says the letter reached the leader's office the day after preselection dates were agreed. He calls it factionalism, not accountability. He also says Shoebridge pressured him to say he would take leave as the story broke.
The letter raises three matters but gives few details, he says. One relates to an alleged sexual assault that WA police investigated without laying charges. Shoebridge said last week that Steele-John had asked for leave and that he had accepted it.
π― Why It Matters
How a party handles complaints shapes whether victims feel safe to speak up. Leaks and spin can make real cases harder to believe.
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says he is not on leave and that leader David Shoebridge made a bad call. He released a six-page statement on Sunday night after complaints about his behaviour towards women became public last week.
Seven former and current party members have asked for an investigation into claims about his conduct between 2017 and 2025. The WA Greens have ordered an independent review, and the matter has gone to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
Steele-John says he wants the claims examined fairly. But he says a faction leaked the letter to push him out.
Steele-John says the letter reached the leader's office the day after preselection dates were agreed. He calls it factionalism, not accountability. He also says Shoebridge pressured him to say he would take leave as the story broke.
The letter raises three matters but gives few details, he says. One relates to an alleged sexual assault that WA police investigated without laying charges. Shoebridge said last week that Steele-John had asked for leave and that he had accepted it.
How a party handles complaints shapes whether victims feel safe to speak up. Leaks and spin can make real cases harder to believe.