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Biography
Rita Saffioti (born 26 May 1972) is an Australian politician and economist, currently representing the seat of West Swan in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. On 17 March 2017, Rita Saffioti was appointed to her current role as Minister for Transport, Planning and Lands.
Personal
Rita grew up on her family's orchard in Roleystone, south-east of Perth. There she attended the local schools and went on to be awarded Dux of Kelmscott Senior High School. In 1992 Rita successfully completed her Bachelor of Business degree at Curtin University, majoring in Economics.
Saffioti is married and has three children. Saffioti is possibly the first female Australian politician to give birth to three children in one term of parliament.
Politics
Saffioti has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1996. Before being elected to parliament, she was a senior advisor and chief of staff to premiers Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter.
Saffioti became the inaugural member for West Swan at the WA state election in September 2008, and re-elected in 2013 and 2017.
In April 2013, Saffioti was made shadow minister for planning, finance, government accountability and women's interests. In June 2015 she became shadow minister for transport, planning, infrastructure and finance. With the election of the McGowan Labor government in March 2017, she was appointed minister for transport, planning and lands.