Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John has been accused of behaving inappropriately towards women over a period of eight years.
Party leader David Shoebridge confirmed Steele-John is on leave from the party and Parliament while an independent investigation is underway.
The WA Senator has denied any allegation of wrongdoing.
Here’s what you need to know.
Steele-John
Steele-John was elected as a Senator for Western Australia in 2017, when he was 23.
At the time, he was the youngest elected Senator in Australian history.
Steele-John has cerebral palsy and was also the first Senator to use a wheelchair.
He has served as the Greens spokesperson for portfolios including Health and Mental Health, Disability Inclusion and the NDIS, and Youth.
Allegations
The Sydney Morning Herald first reported the allegations against Steele-John on Thursday.
According to the SMH, five current and former Greens staffers and two active branch members sent a letter to Shoebridge on Tuesday night.
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The letter detailed “multiple allegations” about Steele-John’s behaviour towards women between 2017 and 2025.
“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 letter said.
They added: “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.”
Shoebridge told the SMH that Steele-John had taken leave from the Greens.
Response
Addressing the allegations at a press conference on Thursday, Shoebridge said the matter requires a “fair and independent and a timely process,” which Steele-John “is entitled to”.
In a statement to media, Steele-John said: “I utterly reject this characterisation of me, which tries to assert I am someone I am not.”
The Senator said he believes one allegation “arises from a former relationship in which I was the victim of extensive, prolonged and deeply distressing domestic abuse,” adding that he has “been working with WA Police to address the abuse I have experienced.”
What’s next?
Shoebridge confirmed to the ABC that Steele-John will not return to Parliament while on leave from the Greens.
The WA Greens have been tasked with setting up an investigation into the allegations.
TDA reached out to WA Police, but had not heard back at the time of publishing.
