Inspirational Leader Series: Hon. Rita Saffioti Bbus MLA

Rita Saffioti was elected to State Parliament in 2008 for the electorate of West Swan, and became a Shadow Minister in 2013. 

Following the 2017 Labor election victory, Rita was appointed to the position of Minister for Transport and Planning. 

This appointment gave Rita the opportunity to take an integrated approach to transport and land use planning, and responsibility of delivering the Governments major METRONET project. 

Three years into the job, there are now a range of major road and rail projects across the state that are either underway or completed. In 2020 alone, she will be overseeing the construction of at least six METRONET projects and nearly 40 major road contracts. 

Rita’s priority is to see the State of Western Australia thrive through planning reform and first class transport network. 

After finishing her schooling at Kelmscott Senior High School, Rita gained a Bachelor of Business at Curtin University before moving to Canberra to work at the Department of Finance and then returning to Western Australia to work at the Department of Treasury.

 In 1997 Rita commenced working for then Opposition Leader Geoff Gallop as an economic adviser, continuing this role into Government before ultimately becoming Chief of Staff to Premier Alan Carpenter. 

Rita has three young children, an 11-year-old and eight-year-old twins. When not at Parliament, Rita can usually be found with her family at the footy cheering on her team, the Fremantle Dockers.