In brief
Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John denies a series of misconduct claims that span eight years, insisting he was not on leave and that police closed a sexual‑assault case without charges. He attacks the party leadership for mishandling the allegations and questions the timing of the complaint letter. The senator cites a long‑standing dossier used to manage media response and vows to rebuild public trust through transparency. The allegations have now been forwarded to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission for further review.
In a swift rebuttal published this week, Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John denies a flood of accusations alleging inappropriate conduct toward women that span eight years, from 2017 to 2025.
The claims surfaced on Thursday when Greens leader David Shoebridge announced that Steele-John had temporarily stepped off the party room floor after a letter from seven current and former members highlighted “multiple allegations” of misconduct.
Steele-John responded on Sunday via an online post, insisting he was not on leave, that a police investigation into a sexual-assault claim had closed without charges, and accusing the party of “nasty political games.”
The senator opened a letter explaining his nickname “Feels on wheels,” originally a self-referential term for his emotional advocacy for disability rights, which he now claims has taken a more sinister “mythical” meaning tied to the allegations.
He further slammed Shoebridge for mishandling the situation, suggesting the timing of the grievance letter—sent the day after the leader ratified the next pre-selection timeline—was no coincidence and served to undermine his standing before the upcoming federal election.
Local outlets reported that the Greens had curated a 47-page dossier four years ago that catalogued the alleged incidents, complete with advice on managing potential media backlash. Steele-John says the dossier was intended to guard the two women at the center of the accusations, who have not filed formal complaints.
The senator admitted that the allegations would erode public trust and pledged to rebuild it through transparency and accountability, while the Greens official confirmed that the facts were forwarded to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
