THE popularity of member for Indi Helen Haines at May's federal poll secured her $90,021 in election funding from the Australian Electoral Commission.
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However, unlike predecessor Cathy McGowan in her two poll wins, Dr Haines did not top the list of Independents' payouts from the AEC.
That title and $110,333 went to Winter Olympian Zali Steggall who defeated former prime minister Tony Abbott in May.
Tasmanian Independent Andrew Wilkie, who was second to Ms McGowan in 2013 and 2016, was ahead of Dr Haines on $93,045.
Dr Haines received 32,664 primary votes, while Ms Steggall had 40,034 and Mr Wilkie 33,761.
Independent candidates who draw more than more four per cent of the primary vote automatically receive an AEC payout which equates to just under $2.76 per vote.
That means Albury mayor Kevin Mack who attracted 19,126 votes in the Farrer poll in May will receive $54,916 from the AEC.
The AEC funding is greater than the differential.
Dr Haines had $421,011 cash and in-kind contributions for her campaign, with $284,891 donated.
She then spent $321,114 to be elected.
The AEC gives lump sums to major political parties based on their overall vote.
If they were calculated on an individual Farrer Liberal Party candidate Sussan Ley would receive $135,619 and her Indi counterpart Steve Martin $97,421.
The Nationals candidate in Indi, former Wodonga mayor, Mark Byatt would score $26,229, with Labor's Eric Kerr would have $33,555 on such an analysis.