Greens leader David Shoebridge has denied knowledge of the existence of an alleged crisis management document on how to deal with allegations against Jordon Steele-John being made public.
The Nine newspapers reported on Friday afternoon the existence of a “secret dossier”, first drafted in ۲۰۱۶, which contained misconduct allegations against the Western Australian Greens senator and how to suppress their media coverage.
Guardian Australia has not independently confirmed the document’s contents.
In a statement responding to claims that the federal leader’s office had access to the ۴۷-page document, Shoebridge said it was not “made by, used by, or seen by the leader’s office”.
“The office is committed to having the matters comprehensively investigated with a fair, independent and timely process,” he said.
“Everyone deserves a safe workplace, and all complaints should be considered in a fair and robust process.”
The WA Greens said the document was created in response to allegations first made against the senator in ۲۰۱۶.
“The Greens WA responded to allegations about Jordon Steele-John in ۲۰۱۶. The allegations were not substantiated and the named persons have never lodged a formal complaint,” the statement said.
“Reference has been made to an internal document that has been provided to the media. This document outlines the management of communications about this matter.”
Steele-John confirmed he would leave the party room on Thursday after some details of historical complaints about inappropriate comments made to women ranging between ۲۰۱۷ and ۲۰۲۵ were publicly aired in the media.
The ۳۲-year-old senator rejected the claims and said he had referred them to the Western Australian Greens for a “fair, independent process” that “upholds the principles of natural justice and ensures procedural fairness for everyone involved”.
“I utterly reject this characterisation of me, which tries to assert I am someone I am not,” Steele-John said in a statement.
Shoebridge told ABC on Friday morning he referred the complaints outlined in a letter to the parliamentary workplace support service, which he said was “unable to deal with it because of the circumstances and nature of the allegation”.
The PWSS’s chief executive, Leonie McGregor, said the office had not been given the letter but had provided Shoebridge’s office with options, including referring the complaints to the independent parliamentary standards commission.
Guardian Australia understands Shoebridge has now referred the matter to the IPSC.
The WA Greens confirmed on Thursday they would “seek legal advice on how best to establish an independent inquiry” into the matters raised.
A statement from the co-conveners, Giz Watson and Simone Collins, and state director, Dean Smith, said: “Our party is built on the contributions of members, volunteers, staff and supporters, and every one of them deserves to feel safe and respected when they take part in our work. Maintaining that safety is a responsibility we hold seriously.”
Shoebridge confirmed Steele-John would not return to parliament until the independent investigations had been completed.
“It’s my understanding that leave means leave,” he told ABC.
“I have responsibility for the party room and the Greens’ functions, and I have some capacity to direct in relation to the party room. But Senator Steele-John has indicated to me that he’s on leave, and that leave means leave.”
