The Filipino community in Australia, now 93,000 strong, has stood up against a revived racism there personified by politician Pauline Hanson and her "One Nation" Party. This was the message at the launching of the Filipino-Australians in Victoria Against Racism (FAVAR) last 16 August 1998 at the Migrant Resource Center Hall in Footscray, Melbourne. The FAVAR Steering Committee convenor Gabby Ocampo said this is "our distinct contribution to the multi-ethnic defense of Australia's multicultural society and policy."

The FAVAR Steering Committee was first convened on 5 July 1988 by Philippine Honorary Consul Maina Walkley. Prior to the FAVAR launching, it initiated a petition to the Victorian State Parliament to put resources into a community education campaign aimed at encouraging respect for cultural diversity.

More recently, FAVAR has become part of a broader coalition of ethnic communities, aboriginal groups and trade unions called People for Racial Equality (PRE) which launched its campaign last 18 September 1998 on the theme "Don't Divide Australia -- Put one Nation Last" (in voting preferences) for the coming 3 October 1998 federal election. PRE will primarily campaign in marignal electroates (where the incumbent parties are uncertain of reelection) in Victoria State.

FAVAR is assigned to the "Put One Nation Last" campaign in the electorate of Ballarat, a city outside Melbourne.The PRE leaflet which it will letter box house-to-house in the week running up to the election carries the call in a number of languages, including Filipino: "I-KULELAT ANG ONE NATION SA BALOTA."

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