Three Filipino-Australians stand as One Nation candidates in Melbourne's west for the Victorian state election

Walter Villagonzalo OAM, Rufo Paredes and Joh Bauch are running for Pauline Hanson's One Nation in the Victorian state election, contesting Tarneit, Laverton and Sydenham in Melbourne's western suburbs, The Philippine Times reported.

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Three Filipino-Australians, Walter Villagonzalo OAM, Rufo Paredes and Joh Bauch, are running as candidates for Pauline Hanson's One Nation at the upcoming Victorian state election, The Philippine Times reported on 18 October.

All three are contesting seats in Melbourne's western suburbs. Villagonzalo is standing in Tarneit, Paredes in Laverton and Bauch in Sydenham. The paper reported that Villagonzalo and Paredes were launched on 17 October in Tarneit at a joint campaign launch for Kororoit, Tarneit and Laverton hosted by One Nation Victoria, and that Bauch's launch was planned for 22 October in Essendon.

Villagonzalo is a former Wyndham councillor and deputy mayor who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia last year, Star Weekly reported, describing his Tarneit run as a third attempt. "I am a reformist," he told The Philippine Times, which said his priorities include local infrastructure such as roads, public transport and parking, local job creation and migrant integration.

Paredes, who has lived in Melbourne's western suburbs for 30 years, is CEO of Hiram Abif Migration Solutions and co-founder of the Pinoy in Parliament Movement. "My priorities are strong communities, fair migration and a safe Victoria," he said.

Bauch is a Brimbank City councillor for Mount Derrimut Ward. The Philippine Times reported that his priorities include community safety, support for small businesses and families, and infrastructure upgrades including the duplication of Taylors Road.