Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John Defies Leave Order Amid Probe
Senator Jordon Steele-John has rejected calls to take leave following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women between 2017 and 2025.
The Australian Greens have launched an independent investigation into Jordon Steele-John following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women spanning 2017 to 2025. The probe followed the leak of a three-page letter to the media calling for a formal inquiry into the senator's conduct.
Greens leader David Shoebridge announced that Steele-John would take leave, but the senator has defied the directive. Steele-John denied the allegations and claimed that a faction within the Western Australian Greens is playing "nasty political games" to influence state pre-selection. Because Shoebridge lacks the unilateral authority to force a leave of absence, removing Steele-John would require a secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of the party room for expulsion.
The party is currently weighing whether Steele-John, who serves as the disability spokesperson, should participate in upcoming Senate estimates hearings. Leadership must balance his influence within the disability community against the public optics of allowing a member accused of misconduct to perform official duties.
