[1] Kairouz was first elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2008 Kororoit by-election, triggered by the resignation of former minister Andre Haermeyer.

Kairouz was an official with the Victorian branch of the Shop Assistants' Union from 2004, and was promoted to become an organiser in 2005 before her election to Parliament.

Kairouz has been a state and national Australian Labor Party conference delegate, and previously served as the Junior Vice-president of the Victorian ALP.

[citation needed] In June 2016, she was appointed to the First Andrews Ministry as Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.

[citation needed] In November 2018, she retained her consumer affairs, gaming and liquor regulation portfolio in the Second Andrews Ministry, and was also appointed Minister for Suburban Development.