Saffin ran as the Labor candidate for the seat of Lismore at the 1991 state election, but was defeated by incumbent National Party MP Bill Rixon.

Four years later, she contested and won preselection for the eighth and last winnable position on the Labor ticket for the Legislative Council at the 1995 state election.

[1] Saffin is associated with the Socialist Left faction of the party throughout her term, and was involved in advocating for progressive causes both inside and outside of parliament.

She served in the role for three years assisting in the rebuilding of the country, staying with Ramos-Horta through his election first to Prime Minister and then President in 2007.

She resigned in early 2007, choosing to return to Australia for family reasons and contest preselection for the National Party held federal seat of Page, based around her home town of Lismore.

Saffin campaigned heavily on industrial relations, health and housing affordability, and received a 2PP swing of 7.8 points, beating the Nationals candidate on preferences.

At a TAFE rally on 23 September 2015, with Labor's Shadow Minister for Vocational Education, Sharon Bird, Saffin announced that she would again contest the federal seat of Page at the 2016 election.