Greens leader denies knowledge of ‘secret dossier’ on how to handle Jordon Steele-John misconduct allegations | Australian Greens | The Guardian  (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html)   (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/manifest.json)  (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon.svg) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-512.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-360.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-240.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-120.png) (../../../../../static.guim.co.uk/images/favicon-32x32.ico) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://sourcepoint.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk) (https://hits-secure.theguardian.com) (https://interactive.guim.co.uk) (https://static.theguardian.com) (https://support.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-textegyptian/noalts-not-hinted/GuardianTextEgyptian-Regular.woff2)                                 (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/css/print.css)  (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html#maincontent) Skip to main content (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html#navigation) Skip to navigation (Close [ESC or Q])   Close dialogue  1 / 1   (Next image [→])   Next image  (Previous image [←])   Previous image  (Toggle caption [i])   Toggle caption                         (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions   (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters   (https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)   Sign in        US  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/us) US edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/uk) UK edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/au) Australia edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/eur) Europe edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/int) International edition      (https://www.theguardian.com/) The Guardian - Back to home             The Guardian    (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Show more    Hide expanded menu       News (https://www.theguardian.com/) View all News  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World news  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness      Opinion (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) View all Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial) The Guardian view  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/columnists) Columnists  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters) Letters  (https://www.theguardian.com/type/video+tone/comment) Opinion videos  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/cartoons) Cartoons      Sport (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) View all Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nfl) NFL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/tennis) Tennis  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/mlb) MLB  (https://www.theguardian.com/football/mls) MLS  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nba) NBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/wnba) WNBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nhl) NHL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone) F1  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/golf) Golf      Culture (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) View all Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/film) Film  (https://www.theguardian.com/books) Books  (https://www.theguardian.com/music) Music  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign) Art & design  (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio) TV & radio  (https://www.theguardian.com/stage) Stage  (https://www.theguardian.com/music/classicalmusicandopera) Classical  (https://www.theguardian.com/games) Games  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/series/design-a-better-world) Design a better world      Lifestyle (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) View all Lifestyle  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness  (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion) Fashion  (https://www.theguardian.com/food) Food  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/recipes) Recipes  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex) Love & sex  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden) Home & garden  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing) Health & fitness  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/family) Family  (https://www.theguardian.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.theguardian.com/money) Money    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)      (https://support.theguardian.com?acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D&INTCMP=side_menu_support) Support us  (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://app.adjust.com/1hskf6nd?adgroup=USHeader) Download the app   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us  (https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai) The Guardian app  (https://www.theguardian.com/video) Video  (https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/inpictures) Pictures  (https://www.theguardian.com/insidetheguardian) Inside the Guardian  (https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_US) Guardian Weekly  (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords) Crosswords  (https://www.wordiply.com) Wordiply  (https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications) Corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tips    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us         (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters                      (The Greens leader, David Shoebridge, has denied knowledge of a secret dossier containing allegations against senator Jordon Steele-John, pictured.)          The Greens leader has denied knowledge of a secret dossier containing allegations against senator Jordon Steele-John, pictured. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP     (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       The Greens leader has denied knowledge of a secret dossier containing allegations against senator Jordon Steele-John, pictured. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP       (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-greens) Australian Greens     Greens leader denies knowledge of ‘secret dossier’ on how to handle Jordon Steele-John misconduct allegations   David Shoebridge says 47-page document not ‘made by, used by, or seen by’ his office as matter referred to parliamentary standards commission Get our (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl) new political email , (https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3) free app or (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl) daily news podcast            (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/sarah-basford-canales) Sarah Basford Canales   Fri 16 Oct 2026 04.55 EDT  First published on Fri 16 Oct 2026 03.38 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Greens leader denies knowledge of ‘secret dossier’ on how to handle Jordon Steele-John misconduct allegations&body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/16/david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url) Share          (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Prefer the Guardian on Google          Greens leader (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/david-shoebridge) David Shoebridge has denied knowledge of the existence of an alleged crisis management document on how to deal with allegations against Jordon Steele-John being made public. The Nine newspapers (https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-to-kill-a-story-the-secret-dossier-the-greens-used-to-protect-steele-john-20261016-p60xbe.html) reported on Friday afternoon the existence of a “secret dossier”, first drafted in 2016, which contained misconduct allegations against the Western Australian Greens senator and how to suppress their media coverage.  Guardian Australia has not independently confirmed the document’s contents. In a statement responding to claims that the federal leader’s office had access to the 47-page document, Shoebridge said it was not “made by, used by, or seen by the leader’s office”. “The office is committed to having the matters comprehensively investigated with a fair, independent and timely process,” he said. “Everyone deserves a safe workplace, and all complaints should be considered in a fair and robust process.” (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed) Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here     The WA Greens confirmed the existence of the document and said it was created in response to allegations first made against the senator in 2016. “The Greens WA responded to allegations about Jordon Steele-John in 2016. The allegations were not substantiated and the named persons have never lodged a formal complaint,” the statement said. “Reference has been made to an internal document that has been provided to the media. This document outlines the management of communications about this matter.” (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/greens-senator-jordan-steele-john-leave-investigation-complaints-ntwnb)  Greens senator Jordon Steele-John takes leave amid investigation into complaints      Read more        Steele-John confirmed he would leave the party room on Thursday after some details of historical complaints about inappropriate comments made to women ranging between 2017 and 2025 were publicly aired in the media. The 32-year-old senator rejected the claims and said he had referred them to the Western (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-greens) Australian Greens for a “fair, independent process” that “upholds the principles of natural justice and ensures procedural fairness for everyone involved”. “I utterly reject this characterisation of me, which tries to assert I am someone I am not,” Steele-John said in a statement. Shoebridge told ABC on Friday morning he referred the complaints outlined in a letter to the parliamentary workplace support service (PWSS), which he said was “unable to deal with it because of the circumstances and nature of the allegation”. (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html#EmailSignup-skip-link-15) skip past newsletter promotion     Free newsletter | Every weekday    Sign up to Politics, really  Our political team brings you up to speed on the stories that really matter and what they mean for you  ()   Enter your email  ()   Sign up      after newsletter promotion   The PWSS’s chief executive, Leonie McGregor, said the office had not been given the letter but had provided Shoebridge’s office with options, including referring the complaints to the independent parliamentary standards commission (IPSC). Guardian Australia understands Shoebridge has now referred the matter to the IPSC. The WA Greens confirmed on Thursday they would “seek legal advice on how best to establish an independent inquiry” into the matters raised. A statement from the co-conveners, Giz Watson and Simone Collins, and state director, Dean Smith, said: “Our party is built on the contributions of members, volunteers, staff and supporters, and every one of them deserves to feel safe and respected when they take part in our work. Maintaining that safety is a responsibility we hold seriously.” Shoebridge confirmed Steele-John would not return to parliament until the independent investigations had been completed. “It’s my understanding that leave means leave,” he told ABC. “I have responsibility for the party room and the Greens’ functions, and I have some capacity to direct in relation to the party room. But Senator Steele-John has indicated to me that he’s on leave, and that leave means leave.”         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-greens) Australian Greens  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) Australian politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/western-australia) Western Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/david-shoebridge) David Shoebridge  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news) news    (mailto:?subject=Greens leader denies knowledge of ‘secret dossier’ on how to handle Jordon Steele-John misconduct allegations&body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/16/david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Faustralia-news%2F2026%2Foct%2F16%2Fdavid-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb&type=article&internalpagecode=australia-news/2026/oct/16/david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content                  More on this story                        More on this story                       (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/16/exclusive-brethren-head-denies-knowing-church-members-volunteering-liberal-party-2025-election-ntwnfb)    ()      Exclusive Brethren head denies knowing church members were volunteering for Liberal party during 2025 election   (Friday, October 16, 2026 at 02:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 3h ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/greens-senator-jordan-steele-john-leave-investigation-complaints-ntwnb)    ()      Greens senator Jordon Steele-John takes leave amid investigation into complaints    (Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/12/greens-sarah-hanson-young-big-tech-digital-duty-of-care-labor)    ()      Greens prepare for fight with Labor over social media algorithm reform, with ‘pervert glasses’ in its sights   (Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 5d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/oct/16/monique-ryan-on-labors-difficult-week-and-josh-frydenbergs-possible-return-australian-politics-podcast)    ()      Australian Politics Monique Ryan on Labor’s difficult week and Josh Frydenberg’s possible return – Australian Politics podcast   (Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 09:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 9h ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/adf-person-of-interest-recording-device-hmas-leeuwin-womens-showers-ntwnfb)    ()      ADF member ‘person of interest’ after video recorder found in HMAS Leeuwin women’s showers    (Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/06/greens-pitch-zohran-mamdani-style-251bn-plan-to-nationalise-200-coles-and-woolworths-supermarkets)    ()      Max Chandler-Mather pitches Mamdani-style $25bn plan to nationalise 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets   (Monday, October 5, 2026 at 03:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 5 Oct 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/03/tragedy-and-loss-helped-forge-steph-hodgins-may-into-a-steely-climate-campaigner-now-shes-taking-on-anthony-albanese)    ()      Tragedy and loss helped forge Steph Hodgins-May into a steely climate campaigner. Now she’s taking on Anthony Albanese   (Friday, October 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2 Oct 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/03/tragedy-and-loss-helped-forge-steph-hodgins-may-into-a-steely-climate-campaigner-now-shes-taking-on-anthony-albanese#comments)    … … comments            (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/anika-wells-dismisses-gov-censorship-claims-online-safety-national-press-club-ntwnfb)    ()      ‘Manosphere’ podcasts and moon-landing conspiracy theories to remain online under new laws, Wells says   (Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 01:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2026/oct/03/can-the-greens-beat-labor-back-to-back-barries-podcast)    ()      Can the Greens beat Labor? – Back to Back Barries podcast   (Friday, October 2, 2026 at 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 2 Oct 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/01/politics-can-be-brutal-sarah-hanson-young-speaks-out-about-divisions-within-greens)    ()      ‘Politics can be brutal’: Sarah Hanson-Young speaks out about divisions within Greens    (Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 04:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1 Oct 2026                    Most viewed      Most viewed                                                               (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (david-shoebridge-denies-secret-dossier-jordon-steel-john-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfb.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.(dcr)