Shoebridge called an emergency federal party meeting on Monday morning following the 2,400-word statement, which Steele-John also attended. It is understood no decisions about the senator\u2019s immediate future, including whether he would attend parliament this month, were taken. There will likely be further meetings this week to determine those decisions.<\/p>\n
The new Greens leader has not called a press conference or spoken publicly about the latest salvo from Steele-John since Sunday night, but instead released a short statement attributed to a spokesperson after the meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Sign up for Guardian Australia\u2019s Politics, really newsletter here<\/a><\/p>\n The statement said Shoebridge \u201cfirmly believes this matter must be resolved with a fair, timely and independent process as is being commissioned by the WA Greens, and he has worked to ensure this occurs\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis process must include procedural fairness for all involved, with the key findings made public.<\/p>\n \u201cSenator Shoebridge remains of the opinion that leave is appropriate under the circumstances and reiterates that this in no way prejudges any of the matters being referred to an inquiry commissioned by the WA Greens. It was the understanding of Senator Shoebridge that leave was agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n That language differs from the first statement issued by Shoebridge on the matter last Thursday<\/a>, which said that \u201cin the circumstances Senator Steele-John has requested leave from the party room and I have accepted it\u201d.<\/p>\n Nine newspapers reported last week<\/a> that seven party members had demanded an investigation into allegations Steel-John had acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025.<\/p>\n Steele-John, in his Sunday night statement, said he was not on leave, contrary to Shoebridge\u2019s comments last week, and claimed he had been pressured by the leader to request leave on Thursday as Nine\u2019s story was breaking.<\/p>\n
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