# Greens in crisis as Steele-John denies taking leave

> David Shoebridge and Jordon Steele-John clash over whether the Western Australian senator agreed to step back from parliament while misconduct allegations are investigated.
- Title: Greens in crisis as Steele-John denies taking leave | Shortify
- Summary: David Shoebridge and Jordon Steele-John clash over whether the Western Australian senator agreed to step back from parliament while misconduct allegations…
- Keywords: australian greens, david shoebridge, jordon steele-john, misconduct allegations, western australia, parliament, news, politics, Greens, crisis, Steele-John, denies
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/19/david-shoebridge-jordon-steele-john-greens-emergency-meeting-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-19T04:05:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: australian greens, david shoebridge, jordon steele-john, misconduct allegations, western australia, parliament, news, politics
## Shoebridge says leave was agreed
Greens leader David Shoebridge said it was his understanding that Western Australian senator Jordon Steele-John agreed to take leave from parliament while misconduct allegations are investigated.
## Steele-John denies the agreement
Steele-John released a lengthy statement on Sunday night saying he was not on leave and had never agreed to stay away from parliament, accusing Shoebridge of pressuring him.

> I am not on leave and did not agree to the inclusion of that line within David's statement.
## Allegations span eight years
Nine newspapers reported that seven party members demanded an investigation into allegations Steele-John acted inappropriately towards women between two thousand seventeen and two thousand twenty-five.
## Steele-John claims pressure
Steele-John said Shoebridge repeatedly pressured him to request leave on Thursday as Nine's story was breaking, calling it a bad call from the leader.

> It was a bad call from David.
## Emergency meeting held
Shoebridge called an emergency federal party meeting on Monday morning. No decisions about Steele-John's immediate future were taken, with further meetings expected this week.
## Independent inquiry underway
The Western Australian Greens are expected to finalise details of an independent investigation into the allegations by the end of the week. A separate referral has been made to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
## Key takeaway

Greens leader David Shoebridge and senator Jordon Steele-John are in conflict over whether Steele-John agreed to take leave from parliament during an investigation into misconduct allegations.