More than a week after allegations that Greens senator Jordon Steele-John had behaved inappropriately towards women made headlines, his position in the party remains in limbo and its new leader’s handling of the issue in question.
David Shoebridge’s first major challenge at the helm of the federal Greens came earlier this month when the Nine newspapers reported a three-page letter had been sent to him urging an independent investigation into Steele-John.
It referred to second-hand allegations that the Western Australian senator had acted inappropriately towards women between ۲۰۱۷ and ۲۰۲۵.
As a progressive party that prides itself on taking such matters seriously and fairly, it made sense that Shoebridge announced the ۳۲-year-old’s leave amid an independent probe into the claims.
But the process quickly became more complicated. Days later, a defiant Steele-John rejected the allegations against him, denied he agreed to take leave from parliament, and accused an internal faction within the WA Greens of playing “nasty political games” in its decision to release the letter to the media.
Steele-John said he made a public statement because he didn’t want his silence on the letter’s claims to be perceived as guilt.
While Shoebridge insists Steele-John agreed to take leave, he acknowledges he alone does not have the power to force the senator to do so.
Only if two-thirds of the party room – or more than seven members – decided to expel him in a secret ballot, would Steele-John have to comply.
Such a move would be nuclear. Even if the WA Greens’ independent investigation clears him of any wrongdoing, Steele-John’s standing in the party room would be shattered.
The week ahead under scrutiny
On Monday, Shoebridge’s ability to deal with the matter will be on show.
Senate estimates is a time for members of the upper house to have their moment in the spotlight. For the Greens, it’s a chance to extricate answers about government policies from carefully trained bureaucrats to drive home a political point.
With the NDIS undergoing major changes between now and the decade’s end, the Greens will have to decide whether their disability spokesperson, Steele-John, who is championed and well-liked within the disability community, should be allowed to attend. Perhaps, virtually.
For many supporters within and outside the Greens, the optics of allowing a federal party member accused of sexual misconduct – even though a complainant has not directly come forward to make those allegations – to continue public duties will be a tough pill to swallow. Particularly as the “manosphere” phenomenon and backlash against the MeToo movement gain momentum in mainstream society.
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The question over whether the allegations were politically motivated by adversaries of Steele-John looking to gain advantage in the state’s pre-selection is a part of the equation.
But the fact remains that the rumours have persisted over the senator’s time in office. Even if they are malicious, as Steele-John contends, the simpler option would still be to stand aside and settle them while they are investigated.
The decision over whether to force Steele-John to take leave will be as much about Shoebridge’s leadership as it is about the party’s processes.
The party room, and its membership more broadly, prides itself on being a movement based on consensus decision-making.
Shoebridge will need the support of the party room to take the expulsion route. How he handles this issue will also set the tone for the rest of his leadership and, depending on his actions, could prompt an ugly battle with Steele-John.
It’s a quagmire – politically, legally and ethically.
There are unlikely to be any winners.
