More than a week after allegations that Greens senator Jordon Steele-John had behaved inappropriately towards women made headlines, his position in the party remains in limbo and its new leader’s handling of the issue in question.

David Shoebridge ’s first major challenge at the helm of the federal Greens came earlier this month when the Nine newspapers reported a three-page letter had been sent to him urging an independent investigation into Steele-John.

It referred to secondhand allegations that the Western Australian senator had acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025.

As a progressive party that prides itself on taking such matters seriously and fairly, it made sense that Shoebridge announced the 32-year-old’s leave amid an independent probe into the claims.

But the process quickly became more complicated.…