Greens Senator Misses Estimates While Party Weighs Expulsion Vote

Senator Jordon Steele-John will not attend the Senate estimates hearings scheduled for next week. The Western Australian Greens member is set to miss the session where officials answer questions on government policy. His absence removes a key voice from the proceedings, as he serves as the party spokesperson for disability matters.

The decision follows a dispute over whether the 32-year-old senator must take paid leave. Shoebridge initially announced that Steele-John would step back while an independent investigation reviewed claims of inappropriate behavior towards women between 2017 and 2025. The allegations were first detailed in a three-page letter reported by The Nine newspapers earlier this month.

Steele-John rejected the suggestion that he agreed to take leave. He stated that he did not consent to the arrangement and accused a faction of the Western Australian Greens of engaging in political maneuvering by releasing the letter to the press. He argued that speaking publicly was necessary to prevent his silence from being interpreted as guilt.

Shoebridge now faces a procedural hurdle. He cannot force the senator to take leave without a vote. A secret ballot requiring a two-thirds majority of the party room, or more than seven members, is needed to compel compliance. Shoebridge has not yet secured this support, leaving the senator's status unresolved.

In a statement released late on Friday, Steele-John explained that he explored participating digitally but was told that option was not acceptable. He said he would focus on the independent investigation he expects the Greens Western Australia to commence soon. The matter carries weight for the disability community, which has supported Steele-John, especially with major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme expected before the end of the decade.

The situation tests the leadership of Shoebridge, who took charge of the federal Greens earlier this month. The party relies on consensus for major decisions. If Shoebridge pursues expulsion, he risks a bitter conflict with Steele-John. If he does not, the party faces criticism for allowing an accused member to continue public duties. The outcome will depend on whether the party room unites behind the leader or fractures along factional lines.