Jordon Steele-John’s position remains in limbo as Greens prepare for moment in spotlight
News Source
•Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:41:46 GMT
📰 What Happened
More than a week after claims about Greens senator Jordon Steele-John were made public, his place in the party is still unclear, and questions are being asked about how new leader David Shoebridge has handled it.
Steele-John, 32, rejected the claims, denied he had agreed to take leave, and accused a faction of the WA Greens of playing "nasty political games" by giving the letter to the media. Shoebridge says the senator did agree to leave, but accepts he cannot force him.
Only a two-thirds vote of the party room, more than seven members in a secret ballot, could expel him. He will miss Senate estimates next week, where changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme were set to be a focus.
🔍 The Backstory
The letter sent on 13 October referred to secondhand claims that Steele-John behaved inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. It gave little detail, and no complainant has come forward directly.
It pointed to an alleged incident of sexual harassment at a 2024 campaign event that was not reported at the time, and to an allegation of serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John said the second claim came from a former partner, was investigated by WA police and ended with no charges.
The WA Greens have ordered an independent investigation, and the matter has also gone to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
🎯 Why It Matters
The case tests whether a party can act on serious claims when no one has made a formal complaint, and what that means for voters and for the people who say they were harmed.
More than a week after claims about Greens senator Jordon Steele-John were made public, his place in the party is still unclear, and questions are being asked about how new leader David Shoebridge has handled it.
Steele-John, 32, rejected the claims, denied he had agreed to take leave, and accused a faction of the WA Greens of playing "nasty political games" by giving the letter to the media. Shoebridge says the senator did agree to leave, but accepts he cannot force him.
Only a two-thirds vote of the party room, more than seven members in a secret ballot, could expel him. He will miss Senate estimates next week, where changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme were set to be a focus.
The letter sent on 13 October referred to secondhand claims that Steele-John behaved inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. It gave little detail, and no complainant has come forward directly.
It pointed to an alleged incident of sexual harassment at a 2024 campaign event that was not reported at the time, and to an allegation of serious sexual misconduct in 2025. Steele-John said the second claim came from a former partner, was investigated by WA police and ended with no charges.
The WA Greens have ordered an independent investigation, and the matter has also gone to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
The case tests whether a party can act on serious claims when no one has made a formal complaint, and what that means for voters and for the people who say they were harmed.