Rita Saffioti

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =The Honourable

| name = Rita Saffioti

| honorific-suffix = MLA

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| office = Deputy Premier of Western Australia

| premier = Roger Cook

| term_start = 8 June 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Roger Cook

| successor =

| office1 = Treasurer of Western Australia

| premier1 = Roger Cook

| term_start1 = 8 June 2023

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Mark McGowan

| successor1 =

| office2 = Minister for Transport

| premier2 = Mark McGowan{{br}}Roger Cook

| term_start2 = 17 March 2017

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Bill Marmion

| successor2 =

| office3 = Minister for Tourism

| premier3 = Roger Cook

| term_start3 = 8 June 2023

| term_end3 =

| predecessor3 = Roger Cook

| successor3 =

| office4 = Minister for Planning

| premier4 = Mark McGowan

| term_start4 = 17 March 2017

| term_end4 = 8 June 2023

| predecessor4 = Donna Faragher

| successor4 = John Carey

| office5 = Minister for Ports

| premier5 = Mark McGowan

| term_start5 = 19 March 2021

| term_end5 = 8 June 2023

| predecessor5 = Alannah MacTiernan

| successor5 = David Michael

| office6 = Minister for Lands

| premier6 = Mark McGowan

| term_start6 = 17 March 2017

| term_end6 = 13 December 2018

| predecessor6 = Terry Redman

| successor6 = Ben Wyatt

| office7 = Deputy Leader of the Western Australian Labor Party

| term_start7 = 6 June 2023

| term_end7 =

| leader7 = Roger Cook

| predecessor7 = Roger Cook

| successor7 =

| office8 = Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for West Swan

| term_start8 = 6 September 2008

| term_end8 =

| predecessor8 = New seat

| successor8 =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|5|26}}

| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia

| party = Labor Party

| alma_mater = Curtin University

| children = 3

}}

Rita Saffioti (born 26 May 1972) is an Australian politician. Representing the Australian Labor Party, she has been the member for the electoral district of West Swan in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Western Australia, since 6 September 2008. Since June 2023, she has been the deputy premier of Western Australia, the treasurer of Western Australia, the minister for transport, and the minister for tourism. From March 2017 to June 2023, she was the minister for transport and minister for planning. From March 2021 to June 2023, she was also the minister for ports. From March 2017 to December 2018, she was also the minister for lands.

Early life and career

Saffioti was born on 26 May 1972 in Perth, Western Australia, to Nicodemo Saffioti, an orchardist, and Guiseppina Ienco, a cook's assistant.{{cite book |last1=Black |first1=David |last2=Phillips |first2=Henry |title=Making a difference : a frontier of firsts : women in the Western Australian Parliament 1921-2012 |isbn=9781921865626 |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/mphistoricaldata.nsf/815d73e082b16e294825872d00238fa2/317445f0f501ba6548257c77001e6305/$FILE/Rita%20Saffioti,%20Making%20a%20Difference.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=2012 |publisher=Parliament of Western Australia |author-link1=David Black (historian) |author-link2=Harry C. J. Phillips |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715054418/https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/mphistoricaldata.nsf/815d73e082b16e294825872d00238fa2/317445f0f501ba6548257c77001e6305/$FILE/Rita%20Saffioti,%20Making%20a%20Difference.pdf |url-status=live }}{{rp|494}} Saffioti's parents were post-war immigrants from the Italian region of Calabria.{{cite web |title=Hon Rita Saffioti BBus MLA |url=http://disaster.digital.wa.gov.au/government/people/rita-saffioti.html |website=WA.gov.au |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=15 July 2020}}{{rp|494}} She grew up on an orchard in Roleystone in the Perth Hills with an older sister, and attended Roleystone Primary School, Roleystone District High School, and Kelmscott Senior High School,{{rp|495}} at which she became dux.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree with distinction from Curtin University, majoring in economics. She then worked in Canberra and Perth for the Department of Finance and then in Perth for the Department of Treasury. She joined the Australian Labor Party in 1996,{{rp|495}}{{cite web| title=About Rita Saffioti |url=http://www.ritasaffioti.com/mla/about.html |website=Rita Saffioti MLA |access-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315235845/http://www.ritasaffioti.com/mla/about.html |archive-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} and from 1997, she worked as an economics adviser for Geoff Gallop, the leader of the opposition until 2001 and Premier of Western Australia following 2001. From February 2003 to February 2005, Saffioti was the director of the economics policy unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. From February 2005 to January 2006, she was a strategic management advisor for the Office of the Premier. In January 2006, Alan Carpenter replaced Gallop as the premier. From January 2006 to April 2008, Saffioti was the chief of staff for the Office of the Premier. Following her preselection for the electoral district of West Swan, she worked as a strategic consultant for the Fremantle Football Club from April to July 2008.{{cite web |title=Ms Rita Saffioti |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/mphistoricaldata.nsf/LinkMembersDbNames/Saffioti,%20Ms%20Rita |website=Parliament of Western Australia |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715054420/https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/mphistoricaldata.nsf/LinkMembersDbNames/Saffioti,%20Ms%20Rita |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Hon Rita Saffioti BBus MLA |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/premier-and-cabinet-ministers/rita-saffioti |website=WA.gov.au |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-date=11 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311003839/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/premier-and-cabinet-ministers/rita-saffioti |url-status=live }}{{rp|495}}

Parliament

Saffioti unsuccessfully stood for election at the 2005 Western Australian state election. She was sixth place on the Labor Party's ticket for the East Metropolitan Region in the Western Australian Legislative Council (upper house).{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Antony |author-link=Antony Green |title=Western Australian Election 2005: East Metropolitan Region |url=https://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2005/guide/emet.htm |website=ABC News |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419112723/https://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2005/guide/emet.htm |url-status=live }} She won preselection for West Swan in April 2008, with Carpenter controversially hand-picking her over Swan Hills MP Jaye Radisich{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Connie |title=My kids are EVERYTHING to me |work=The Sunday Times |date=14 May 2017 |pages=STM 9–11}} and the Labor Right's Belinda Coniglio.{{cite news |last1=Strutt |first1=Jessica |title=Dockers job for Carpenter aide on way to House |work=The West Australian |date=19 April 2008 |page=4}} At the 2008 Western Australian state election on 6 September, Saffioti was elected to the newly created electoral district of West Swan in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Western Australia. She was re-elected at the elections in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Over its existence, West Swan has covered the north-eastern Perth suburbs of Ballajura, Caversham, Ellenbrook, Landsdale and parts of the Swan Valley.{{cite web |title=WA Election 2017: Electorate: West Swan |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa-election-2017/guide/wswa/ |website=ABC News |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117201005/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa-election-2017/guide/wswa/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=WA Election 2021: West Swan |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2021/guide/wswa |website=ABC News |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122100958/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2021/guide/wswa |url-status=live }}

From 9 April 2013 to 26 June 2015, Saffioti was the shadow minister for planning, finance, government accountability and women's interests. From 26 June 2015 to 11 March 2017, she was the shadow minister for planning, finance, transport and infrastructure.

On 17 March 2017, following the election of the McGowan government on 11 March 2017, Saffioti was appointed as the minister for transport, minister for planning, and minister for lands. She stopped being minister for lands on 13 December 2018, with Premier Mark McGowan saying it would enable Saffioti to focus more on Metronet, the government's expansion program for Perth's rail network. Ben Wyatt succeeded her as minister for lands.{{cite web |title=WA Premier Mark McGowan tweaks Cabinet with Metronet in mind |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-tweaks-cabinet-for-2019-ng-b881050075z |website=The West Australian |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=13 December 2018 |agency=Australian Associated Press |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419112710/https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-tweaks-cabinet-for-2019-ng-b881050075z |url-status=live }} Following the 2021 election, on 19 March 2021, Saffioti became the minister for ports, as well as keeping her existing ministries.

Agencies under the responsibility of the minister for transport are the Department of Transport, Main Roads Western Australia and the Public Transport Authority. Agencies under the responsibility of the minister for planning are the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and the Western Australian Planning Commission. Agencies under the responsibility of the minister for ports are the Department of Transport, the Fremantle Port Authority, the Kimberley Ports Authority, the Mid West Ports Authority, the Pilbara Ports Authority and the Southern Ports Authority.

Upon becoming minister for transport, Saffioti cancelled the controversial Roe 8 highway project, which would have extended Roe Highway through the Beeliar Wetlands. The cancellation fulfiulled an election promise made by Labor. The contract for the project was renegotiated to instead construct three different road projects: duplication of Wanneroo Road between Joondalup Drive and Flynn Drive, connection between Murdoch Drive and Roe Highway, and duplication of Armadale Road between Tapper Road and Anstey Road. $46.9 million of taxpayer funds was written off by the decision to cancel Roe 8.{{cite web |title=Roe 8 Alliance redeployed to three new projects |url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/05/Roe-8-Alliance-redeployed-to-three-new-projects.aspx |website=Media Statements |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=10 May 2017 |archive-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217040015/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/05/Roe-8-Alliance-redeployed-to-three-new-projects.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Caporn |first1=Dylan |title=Bill for scrapping Roe 8 to top $45m |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/bill-for-scrapping-roe-8-to-top-45m-ng-b88470816z |website=The West Australian |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=10 May 2017 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417172250/https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/bill-for-scrapping-roe-8-to-top-45m-ng-b88470816z |url-status=live }}

As the minister for transport and minister for planning, Saffioti has control over Metronet. Under Metronet, construction started on the Morley–Ellenbrook line (now known as the Ellenbrook line, an extension of the Joondalup line (now known as the Yanchep line) to Yanchep, an extension of the Armadale line to Byford, an extension of the Thornlie line to Cockburn Central on the Mandurah line, a new station at Lakelands on the Mandurah line, a rebuild of Bayswater station, Claremont station and Midland station, and the removal of several level crossings along the Armadale/Thornlie lines and Midland line. Railcar manufacturing was also brought back into Western Australia for the first time since the 1990s, with the Transperth C-series trains being manufactured in Bellevue, Western Australia. Redevelopment areas were established around Bayswater station and High Wycombe station in 2019.{{cite web |title=Metronet East |url=https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/redevelopment/metronet-east/overview |website=DevelopmentWA |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921051413/https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/redevelopment/metronet-east/overview |url-status=live }} During the 2017 election campaign, Saffioti promised that all Metronet stage 1 projects would be finished within eight years.{{cite web |title=Metronet: Is Mark McGowan's vision for Perth's rail network still on track? |url=https://thewest.com.au/features/the-sunday-times-long-reads/metronet-is-mark-mcgowans-vision-for-perths-rail-network-still-on-track-c-5688772 |website=The West Australian |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=27 February 2022 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419112708/https://thewest.com.au/features/the-sunday-times-long-reads/metronet-is-mark-mcgowans-vision-for-perths-rail-network-still-on-track-c-5688772 |url-status=live }}

Following Mark McGowan's announcement on 29 May 2023 of his imminent resignation as premier and Labor leader, Saffioti entered the ensuing leadership ballot as one of three candidates. As the left faction has a strong position within the Labor Party's caucus, the position was likely to go to a left-aligned candidate such as Roger Cook or Amber-Jade Sanderson rather than the unaligned Saffioti.{{cite web |last1=De Poloni |first1=Gian |title=WA Premier Mark McGowan announces resignation from politics, live |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-29/mark-mcgowan-resigns-wa-premier-live-blog/102406760 |website=ABC News |access-date=29 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Burton |first1=Jesinta |title=Mark McGowan has left the building, so who will be WA's next leader? |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/mark-mcgowan-has-left-the-building-so-who-will-be-wa-s-next-leader-20230529-p5dc8q.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=29 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Beyer |first1=Mark |title=Three-way contest to succeed McGowan |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Three-way-contest-to-succeed-McGowan |website=Business News |access-date=29 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Tim |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Josh |title=Who will replace Mark McGowan as Premier? The contenders for WA's top job |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/who-will-replace-mark-mcgowan-as-premier-the-contenders-for-was-top-job-c-10804158 |website=The West Australian |access-date=29 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023 |url-access=subscription}} Polling conducted in January 2023 by Painted Dog Research for The West Australian showed that Saffioti was favoured by 13 percent of voters to succeed McGowan if he were to retire, behind Cook at 15 percent but above Sanderson at 6 percent. On 30 May, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union chose Cook as its preferred candidate for leader and Saffioti as its preferred candidate for deputy leader. Following that, Saffioti withdrew from leadership contention and backed Cook to be leader and herself as deputy.{{cite web |last1=Rintoul |first1=Caitlyn |title=Rita Saffioti endorses Roger Cook as next WA Premier with herself as Deputy Premier in blow to Sanderson |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/rita-saffioti-endorses-roger-cook-as-next-wa-premier-with-herself-as-deputy-premier-in-blow-to-sanderson-c-10820004 |website=The West Australian |access-date=30 May 2023 |date=30 May 2023 |url-access=subscription}} The Labor Party formally elected her as deputy leader on 6 June 2023.{{cite web |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Josh |last2=Rintoul |first2=Caitlyn |title=David Michael becomes WA's newest minister following Labor caucus meeting endorsing Roger Cook as Premier |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/david-michael-to-become-was-newest-minister-during-labor-caucus-meeting-to-endorse-roger-cook-as-premier-c-10884680 |website=The West Australian |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=6 June 2023 |url-access=subscription}}

The Cook ministry was sworn in on 8 June 2023. Saffioti was installed as the deputy premier of Western Australia, treasurer, and minister for tourism, while staying on as transport minister and relinquishing the roles of minister for planning and minister for ports.{{cite web |title=New Cook Cabinet team unveiled |url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2023/06/New-Cook-Cabinet-team-unveiled.aspx |website=Media Statements |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=7 June 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607081358/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2023/06/New-Cook-Cabinet-team-unveiled.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Hastie |first1=Hamish |title=Cook hopes new-look WA cabinet will be 'grand final' contenders |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/cook-hopes-new-look-wa-cabinet-will-be-grand-final-contenders-20230607-p5deny.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=7 June 2023}} Some people, including deputy Liberal Party leader Steve Thomas expressed concern about the high workload placed on Saffioti,{{cite web |last1=Bourke |first1=Keane |last2=Carmody |first2=James |title=Rita Saffioti becomes treasurer, Bill Johnston loses corrective services in WA cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-07/roger-cook-wa-cabinet-revealed-amid-reshuffle/102448756 |website=ABC News |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=7 June 2023}} although ministers have previously had similar portfolios, most recently when Troy Buswell was treasurer, minister for transport, minister for housing, and minister for emergency services in the Barnett ministry.{{cite web |last1=Bourke |first1=Keane |title=Roger Cook, Rita Saffioti endorsed by WA Labor as premier and deputy, with David Michael joining cabinet |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-06/wa-government-david-michael-joins-cabinet-roger-cook-sworn-in/102380608 |website=ABC News |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=6 June 2023}}

In the 2025 Western Australian state election, she was re-elected.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-09 |title=West Swan - WA Electorate, Candidates, Results |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2025/guide/wswa |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}

Political views

Saffioti is one of four Labor MPs in state parliament that is not factionally aligned as of 2025.{{cite web |last1=Hastie |first1=Hamish |title=WA Labor’s factional makeup has changed dramatically since Saturday. Here’s what we know |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-labor-s-factional-makeup-has-changed-dramatically-since-saturday-here-s-what-we-know-20250312-p5lizv.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=12 March 2025 |date=12 March 2025}} In 2010, she spoke out against parliament rules which prohibited her from taking her baby into the chamber. Government MPs Rob Johnson, Joe Francis and Vince Catania threatened to kick her out of the chamber under rules that meant strangers were not allowed in the chamber. Saffioti has also voiced support for a family room in Parliament House.{{rp|498–9}}

Personal life

Saffioti married Timothy Fraser on 21 October 2006 at the Perth Town Hall. They have two daughters and one son born via IVF.{{rp|497}} She was the first member of parliament to give birth in over 10 years, with the previous time being Michelle Roberts in 1999.{{cite news |last1=Strutt |first1=Jessica |title=Saffioti says there'll be a baby in the House |work=The West Australian |date=13 August 2009 |page=12}}{{cite web |last1=Spagnolo |first1=Joe |title=Labor MP Rita Saffioti wants her baby in Parliament |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/labor-mp-rita-saffioti-wants-her-baby-in-parliament-ng-78fbe2ea8a1bcf46f68417b048ea3adf |website=PerthNow |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=27 February 2010 |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419112708/https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/labor-mp-rita-saffioti-wants-her-baby-in-parliament-ng-78fbe2ea8a1bcf46f68417b048ea3adf |url-status=live }} Saffioti is Catholic. She supports the Fremantle Football Club.