[4][5] She graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree with distinction from Curtin University, majoring in economics.
She joined the Australian Labor Party in 1996,[2]: 495 [5] 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.
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.
She was sixth place on the Labor Party's ticket for the East Metropolitan Region in the Western Australian Legislative Council (upper house).
[9][10] From 9 April 2013 to 26 June 2015, Saffioti was the shadow minister for planning, finance, government accountability and women's interests.
[1] 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.
[1][11] Following the 2021 election, on 19 March 2021, Saffioti became the minister for ports, as well as keeping her existing ministries.
[15] During the 2017 election campaign, Saffioti promised that all Metronet stage 1 projects would be finished within eight years.
[14] 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.
[21] Saffioti is one of six Labor MP's in the current state parliament that is not factionally aligned as of 2021.
[4][2]: 498–9 Saffioti married Timothy Fraser on 21 October 2006 at the Perth Town Hall.
[1][2]: 497 [6] She was the first member of parliament to give birth in over 10 years, with the previous time being Michelle Roberts in 1999.