Born in Wegberg, Germany, he was a police officer and company manager in Australia before entering politics.
In April 1995, he was defeated for Liberal preselection to contest Moore at the next election, as part of "a bitter power struggle in the WA branch involving Senator Noel Crichton-Browne".
He resigned from the party on 18 June 1995 to become an independent, although he stated he would continue to vote with the Coalition.
His vote dropped dramatically in 1998 and he was eliminated on the fourth count, when Mal Washer regained the seat for the Liberals.
After leaving politics, Filing owned and operated Aussie Home Loans mortgage broking franchise stores at Joondalup, Currambine, Belmont, Midland, Fremantle, Gosnells and Kalamunda in Perth's metropolitan area.