Senior Labor and Coalition figures have called for answers from Greens leader David Shoebridge as Senator Jordon Steele-John faces an internal probe into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Senator Steele-John took leave from the Greens party room this week after current and former members wrote to Senator Shoebridge seeking an investigation into claims said to span “almost a decade”.
The allegations remain unproven, and Senator Steele-John has rejected them. He said they attempted “to assert I am someone I am not”.
The calls for an explanation followed reports that the Western Australia branch of the Greens held a 47-page crisis management plan setting out how to handle media coverage of possible allegations involving Senator Steele-John.
The document also instructed staff to monitor related discussion on social media from party members.
Senator Shoebridge, who won the Greens leadership late last month with Senator Steele-John’s backing, has denied knowing about either the document or the allegations.
Cabinet minister Tim Ayres said there were “questions” for the new leader to answer. Asked whether he believed Senator Shoebridge knew about the allegations before they became public, Mr Ayres referred questions to the Greens leader.
Mr Ayres said he had not heard any rumours about the claims. Opposition frontbencher Sarah Henderson said the Greens had “a lot of explaining to do” and called for what she described as a proper, independent inquiry.
Senator Steele-John said he had referred the matter to the WA Greens so that “a fair, independent process can be commissioned that upholds the principles of natural justice and ensures procedural fairness for everyone involved”.
“These claims are made without specifics, any allegation of this nature is extremely serious and must be treated accordingly,” he said. “If someone has made an allegation, I am prepared to address it.”
