Two former Greens officials step forward to demand public results in Steele-John inquiry

Two former Greens insiders have broken their silence to demand that the findings of an independent inquiry into Senator Jordon Steele-John be shared with the public. Former media adviser Tim Oliver and former state co-convenor Sarah Nielsen-Harvey are among the seven party members who wrote to federal leader David Shoebridge last Thursday.

Dossier And Allegations

Last Friday, reports revealed the party kept a secret tracking file for ten years that collected complaints about the Western Australian senator and mapped out strategies to manage media attention and watch members who spoke out online. Shoebridge stated he had no prior knowledge of these issues before receiving the letter. Oliver, who worked for the senator from October 2017 to July 2021, confirmed the document existed and was used, stating he was briefed on it but had no part in making it. Nielsen-Harvey resigned as state co-convenor in 2017 after the party decided to re-employ Steele-John as a volunteers' co-ordinator before his senate career, noting she became aware of unacceptable behaviour back then and supported complainants who chose not to pursue formal action at the time.

Responses And Denials

Steele-John has taken leave and strongly rejected the claims, calling them vague and arguing that internal factions are weaponising rumors to affect upcoming preselections. In a 2400-word social media statement on Sunday night, he maintained he was not actually on leave as Shoebridge claimed and welcomed a fair inquiry. Meanwhile, former WA state leader Elizabeth 'Giz' Watson will have no part in the independent probe after members raised concerns about her past role when initial complaints arose. Shoebridge's office stated the review must remain fair and independent, and the leader supports releasing its main findings to the public.

Context

Internal party disputes and preselection battles often come to light during inquiries into senior politicians, creating friction between leadership and grassroots members. Independent investigations are standard mechanisms used by political organisations to handle serious workplace complaints while attempting to maintain neutrality and transparency.