Greens senator accused of making inappropriate comments takes leave

Western Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John has taken leave from the partyroom following allegations of inappropriate comments made to women over a period of nearly a decade. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that seven party members sent a letter to Greens leader David Shoebridge on Tuesday night regarding multiple allegations concerning the senator's behaviour in the presence of women.

ABC News AU reported that the letter stated some women who have volunteered or taken roles in the party were warned not to be alone with Steele-John because of these allegations.

Steele-John has rejected the claims, stating he utterly rejects the characterisation of him and noted that the allegations were made without specifics. According to The Guardian, Steele-John referred the matter to the Western Australian Greens to ensure a fair and independent process that upholds principles of natural justice.

Greens leader David Shoebridge confirmed he has accepted Steele-John's request for leave and stated the party takes such concerns extremely seriously. ABC News AU reported that Shoebridge's office has consulted with the Western Australian Greens and the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service to resolve the matter via an independent review.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian Australia, The Guardian, ABC News AU — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.