Western Australian police have charged a 40-year-old woman over alleged stalking and attempted extortion of Greens senator Jordon Steele-John. The woman, who police allege is a former partner of the senator, is due to appear in a Perth magistrates court on Thursday. A spokesperson for Steele-John said he would not comment further on the investigation.
The charges, announced by WA police on Wednesday, include one count of aggravated stalking with intent to intimidate and one count of demanding property by written threats, commonly known as extortion. WA police said detectives from the family violence investigation squad charged the woman.
Steele-John did not attend parliament last week after a group of Greens members sent a letter to party leader David Shoebridge urging an investigation into allegations that Steele-John had acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025. In a 2,400-word statement issued after a report by the Nine newspapers, Steele-John denied all the allegations. The complaints are now subject to an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
A spokesperson for Steele-John said: “The senator won’t be commenting on this investigation further at this time.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The stalking and extortion charges against a former partner of a sitting senator highlight the personal security risks faced by public figures.
- The separate misconduct allegations against Steele-John could have repercussions for his political career and for the Greens party’s handling of internal complaints.
- The case intersects issues of domestic violence, extortion, and political accountability.
Background
Jordon Steele-John has been a Greens senator for Western Australia since 2017. The current allegations cover a period from 2017 to 2025.
Key Perspectives
- WA police: Allege the woman is a former partner of Steele-John and have charged her with aggravated stalking and extortion.
- Steele-John’s spokesperson: Said the senator will not comment further on this investigation.
- Steele-John: Denied all allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women and said he would cooperate with the independent investigation.
- Greens members: Urged the party to investigate allegations against Steele-John.
What to Watch
- The woman’s court appearance on Thursday morning in Perth.
- The findings of the independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens.
- Any further developments or statements from Steele-John or police.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA 40-year-old woman was charged over alleged stalking and attempted extortion of Greens senator Jordon Steele-John.World news | The Guardian: “A 40-year-old woman has been arrested and charged by Western Australian police for allegedly stalking and attempting to extort the Greens senator Jordon Steele-John.”
- SupportedPolice will allege the woman is a former partner of Steele-John.World news | The Guardian: “WA police will allege the woman is a former partner of Steele-John.”
- SupportedThe woman is due to appear in a Perth magistrates court on Thursday.World news | The Guardian: “The woman is due to appear in a Perth magistrates court on Thursday morning.”
- SupportedA spokesperson for Steele-John said he would not comment further on the investigation.World news | The Guardian: “A spokesperson for Steele-John said: “The senator won’t be commenting on this investigation further at this time.””
- SupportedThe complaints about Steele-John are under investigation.World news | The Guardian: “These complaints are now subject to an independent investigation commissioned by the WA Greens”
- SupportedThe complaints have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.World news | The Guardian: “and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission .”
- SupportedPolice said on Wednesday that detectives from the family violence investigation squad charged the woman.World news | The Guardian: “WA police said on Wednesday detectives from the family violence investigation squad charged the Perth woman”
- SupportedThe woman faces one count of aggravated stalking with intent to intimidate and one count of demanding property by written threats, commonly known as extortion.World news | The Guardian: “with one count of aggravated stalking with intent to intimidate and one count of demanding property by written threats, commonly known as extortion.”
- SupportedSteele-John did not attend parliament last week after Greens members sent a letter to David Shoebridge urging an investigation into allegations about his conduct towards women between 2017 and 2025.World news | The Guardian: “Steele-John did not attend parliament last week after a group of Greens members sent a three-page letter to the Greens leader, David Shoebridge , urging an investigation into allegations that Steele-John had acted inappropriately towards women between 2017 and 2025.”
- Partly supportedSteele-John issued a 2,400-word statement following a report by the Nine newspapers and denied all the allegations.World news | The Guardian: “In a 2,400-word statement following a report by the Nine newspapers, Steele-John denied all the allegations made against him in the letter.”
- SupportedThe spokesperson said, “The senator won’t be commenting on this investigation further at this time.”World news | The Guardian: “A spokesperson for Steele-John said: “The senator won’t be commenting on this investigation further at this time.””