00:01Greens WA Senator Jordan Steelejohn took to social media last night to confirm he won't
00:08be attending Parliament next week due to ongoing allegations of misconduct towards women that
00:15have been levelled against him.
00:17Now, Senator Steelejohn has strenuously denied these allegations and in this post to social
00:24media last night, he attached a copy of a letter that he said he'd received from nine
00:30newspapers, James Masola, it's dated October 13, and it's written by seven either former
00:37or current Greens staffers or party office bearers, and it outlines a number of allegations against
00:46Senator Steelejohn, the writers who are not named said that they were aware of these allegations
00:52of serious misconduct that had been made against the Senator spanning almost a decade.
00:58Now, the letter goes on to state the accusations have come from both inside and outside the
01:03party, and the letter urges Greens leader, David Shoebridge, to commission an internal and
01:11independent investigation into these matters.
01:14So, as I said, Senator Steelejohn has strenuously denied these accusations, and in this post to
01:22social media last night, he reflected on a growing chorus of people who he did not name
01:29that had been urging him not to attend Parliament next week, and he said that ahead of this investigation
01:36that will be conducted by the WA branch of the Greens, he decided that he will not attend next
01:45week when Senate estimates are due to take place, and he said that he'd also explored potentially
01:51attending Senate estimates digitally, but he was told that this wasn't an option.
01:56Now, there's been quite a bit unfold over the last week with this particular story, Jade, because
02:01when the report that was broken by James Masola came to light, Greens leader David Shoebridge
02:09said that it was his understanding that Senator Jordan Steelejohn would be taking leave.
02:14We then heard from the Senator a few days later saying that no, he was planning to attend Parliament,
02:20and then on Thursday last week, Greens leader David Shoebridge said that he'd spoken
02:25with Senator Steelejohn and urged him not to attend Parliament, even though as Greens leader,
02:33he said that he doesn't have the power to force any parliamentarian to not attend.
02:38But it appears that the Senator has listened to this advice and has taken it upon himself
02:45to not attend Parliament next week.
02:47Now, he finishes this statement that was put on social media last night by saying,
02:52quote, the precedent has now been set, quote, any MP can be kept out of Parliament by allegations
02:59of allegations.
03:00So I think, Jade, it's safe to say there's quite a bit more to unfold with this particular
03:05story, and we've contacted the office of David Shoebridge for further comment.
