Greens in dispute over Steele-John leave as misconduct claims investigated

Greens leader David Shoebridge says it is his understanding that Western Australian senator Jordon Steele-John agreed to take leave from parliament while misconduct allegations against him are investigated.

Steele-John says he is not on leave and never agreed to stay away. The dispute over his status triggered an emergency meeting of the federal Greens party room, where Greens parliamentarians meet, on Monday morning.

Shoebridge had said last Thursday that Steele-John requested leave from the party room and he had accepted it. Steele-John claims he was pressured by Shoebridge to request leave on Thursday as reporting of the complaints was breaking The Guardian.

Nine newspapers reported that seven party members had demanded an investigation into claims Steele-John acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. The allegations were raised in a letter to the Australian Greens. One of the matters was described as alleged "serious sexual misconduct".

Steele-John denies the allegations. In a 2400-word statement on Sunday night, he said Shoebridge pressured him to take leave after the complaints became public. In that statement he accused an internal faction within the Greens of playing "nasty political games".

Shoebridge said it is appropriate for Steele-John to take leave while the allegations are investigated. Shoebridge commissioned an investigation last week.

After the Monday meeting, Shoebridge said the matter must be resolved with a fair, timely and independent process commissioned by the WA Greens. He said the process must include procedural fairness with key findings made public.