Greens Senator for WA Jordon Steele-John has responded to allegations about inappropriate behaviour towards women in a long statement to Instagram.
Steele-John alleged domestic abuse by a former partner, and said the accusations against him came from a “political clique” in the Greens.
He also said he was not on leave, contrary to party leader David Shoebridge’s comments last week.
A spokesperson for Shoebridge responded, saying it was his “understanding… that leave was agreed.”
Background
Last week, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that five current and former Greens staffers and two active branch members had sent a letter to Shoebridge, detailing “multiple allegations” about Steele-John’s behaviour towards women between 2017 and 2025.
In response, Steele-John said: “I utterly reject this characterisation of me.”
Shoebridge said the WA Greens were commissioning an independent investigation into the allegations, and that Steele-John was on leave from the party.
Statement
On Sunday evening, Steele-John released a statement on social media responding to the allegations.
In his statement, Steele-John said the letter sent by Greens members to Shoebridge discussed a complaint of “serious sexual misconduct” made about him last year.
Steele-John said it was true that there had been a complaint, which he said was lodged by his former partner.
It resulted in a report to police of sexual assault, which Steele-John said was investigated and closed without charges.
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The Senator alleged this person was abusive towards him and “continues to be under investigation by the WA Police Family and Domestic Violence team.”
Steele-John also siad there is a “political clique” in the WA Greens.
He described the letter as the clique’s “attempt to influence” the Greens’ candidates at future elections “by deliberately leaking out of context or misleading information”.
Steele-John also said Shoebridge had “pressured” him to take leave, and that he did not agree to Shoebridge telling media he was on leave, adding: “I will continue to do my job”.
Response
In a statement to TDA, a spokesperson for Shoebridge said he “firmly believes this matter must be resolved with a fair, timely and independent process”.
Shoebridge “remains of the opinion that leave is appropriate under the circumstances”.
“It was the understanding of Senator Shoebridge that leave was agreed,” the spokesperson said.
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