{
  "id": 15388764,
  "title": "Jordon Steele-John says ‘I’m not on leave’ and accuses Greens leader of making ‘bad call’ regarding complaints",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/jordon-steele-john-says-im-not-on-leave-and-accuses-greens-leader-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T09:51:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/18/greens-senator-jordon-steele-john-says-not-on-leave-blames-david-shoebridge-complaints-ntwnfb"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jordon Steele-John, a Greens senator for Western Australia, has vehemently denied allegations against him and accused Greens leader David Shoebridge of making \"a bad call\" regarding the complaints. Steele-John released a six-page statement to the public after Nine newspapers reported that seven former and current party members demanded an investigation into allegations that he had acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. He stated that the complaints were not about \"accountability\" but rather \"factionalism,\" and that an \"unofficial faction\" within the West Australian branch released the complaint letter to the media in an attempt to oust him from the Senate. Steele-John affirmed that he was not on leave, contradicting Shoebridge's claims, and alleged that he had been pressured by the leader to request leave on Thursday as the Nine story broke. He also dismissed the nickname \"feels on wheels,\" which stemmed from a period of emotional speeches regarding the disability royal commission when he was a younger senator. Steele-John further detailed three matters mentioned in the letter: a period of alleged sexual harassment at a Greens campaign party in 2024, which the authors did not specify, and a matter of \"serious sexual misconduct\" that was subsequently found without charges by the Western Australian police.",
  "summary": "Greens senator for WA says complaints regarding his behaviour towards women not about ‘accountability’ but rather ‘factionalism’ Jordon Steele-John has accused an internal faction within the Greens of playing “nasty political games” and leader David Shoebridge of pressuring him to take leave after complaints about his conduct were made public last week. The 32-year-old Greens senator released a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Jordon Steele-John denies allegations, accuses Greens leader of bad call",
    "Steele-John clarifies he is not on leave, refutes factionalism claims",
    "Three specific complaints detailed: sexual harassment, serious misconduct"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "‘Nasty political games’: Steele-John claims rumours were weaponised, denies taking leave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/nasty-political-games-steele-john-claims-rumours-were-weaponised-15409341",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:30:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "‘Nasty political games’: Steele-John claims rumours were weaponised, denies taking leave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/nasty-political-games-steele-john-claims-rumours-were-weaponised",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:30:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Jordon Steele-John says he has been falsely accused of inappropriate conduct",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/jordon-steele-john-says-he-has-been-falsely-accused-of-inappropriate",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:53:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}