The Western Australian Greens will investigate allegations that Senator Jordon Steele-John has behaved inappropropriately towards women.
Steele-John, who denies the claims, has taken leave from the Greens party room.
The WA senator has been in the parliament since 2017, when he filled a casual vacancy. He is the party’s spokesman on disability.
The issue has blown up publicly after Nine media reported that a letter signed by seven party members had gone to new Greens leader David Shoebridge this week calling for an investigation into the matter. Those signing include several current and former staffers.
Sources said none of those signing the letter had alleged Steele-John had acted inappropriately to them personally. Several of the signatories are men.
The party crisis comes just as Shoebridge is settling into his leadership role, having replaced Senator Larissa Waters who stood down as leader due to ill health.
Nine reported the letter, which has not been released, as saying,
We have been made aware of multiple allegations … being made against WA Federal Senator, Jordon Steele-John spanning almost a decade (2017-2025). These allegations all concern his behaviour in the presence of women. We are aware of multiple women who have taken up roles or volunteered in the party, who because of these allegations, have been warned not to … be alone with him,“ the authors state.
These warnings have come from inside and outside the party, demonstrating that knowledge of his alleged reputation extends beyond party membership and out into the community.
Steele-John said:
I have referred this matter to the WA Greens, so that a fair, independent process can be commissioned that upholds the principles of natural justice and ensures procedural fairness for everyone involved.
The letter says that victims of sexual and family violence should be at the centre of any investigation. I agree. In the one complaint of which I have been made aware, I am the person who experienced family violence.
I believe an allegation arises from a former relationship in which I was the victim of extensive, prolonged and deeply distressing domestic abuse.
I have been working with WA Police to address the abuse I have experienced.
Shoebridge told a news conference he had not been previously aware of the allegations.
He said the allegations required a fair, independent and timely process for dealing with them. “The WA Greens are commissioning that process, and the matter has been referred across to the WA Greens for that process.”
Asked about some previous allegations, from around 2018, he said he did not recall them. Shoebridge was in the New South Wales parliament at that time.
