Greens Leader Lacks Authority to Force Senator's Leave Without Seven Votes

David Shoebridge, the new leader of the federal Greens, announced that Senator Jordon Steele-John would take leave from parliament while an independent investigation examines misconduct claims. The 32-year-old Western Australian senator rejected that arrangement, stating he did not agree to step aside and accusing an internal faction of the WA Greens of releasing a letter to the media to play political games.

The dispute centers on a three-page letter sent to Shoebridge earlier this month. The document requested an independent probe into secondhand allegations that Steele-John acted inappropriately toward women between 2017 and 2025. Shoebridge maintains that the senator agreed to leave but concedes he lacks the sole authority to compel compliance. Under party rules, Steele-John can only be forced to take leave if two-thirds of the party room vote to expel him in a secret ballot. That threshold requires more than seven votes.

Steele-John will not attend the upcoming week of Senate estimates, where senators question government officials. As the party's disability spokesperson, his absence leaves a gap in the scrutiny of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which faces major changes before the end of the decade. In a statement issued late on Friday, Steele-John said he explored attending digitally but was informed that option was unacceptable. He said he would focus on the independent investigation he hopes the WA Greens will commence soon.

The situation creates a difficult dynamic for Shoebridge, whose leadership is being tested by the episode. The Greens pride themselves on consensus decision-making, meaning Shoebridge needs broad support from his colleagues to pursue expulsion. If he moves forward and the WA Greens' investigation clears Steele-John, the senator's standing in the party room will likely suffer. If he does not move, supporters who view the misconduct allegations seriously may view the inaction as a failure of leadership.

Steele-John said he spoke publicly because he did not want his silence to be read as guilt. He remains in office while the party decides whether to trigger the expulsion vote. The decision will require a supermajority in the Senate chamber, a high bar for a party that values internal agreement. Until that vote occurs, the senator's status remains unresolved.

The independent probe is expected to be conducted by the WA Greens. Steele-John has denied the allegations, and no complainant has come forward directly. The matter now rests on the party's internal process and the willingness of its members to vote for a drastic measure that could alter the political landscape for both men.