AEC distributes $56.3 million to parties and independents based on election votes Clive Palmer is thought to have spent millions from his own fortune to help his party win votes and those votes have returned the party $2.02 million in electoral funding. AUSTRALIA'S political parties and independents have scooped up $56.3 million in funding from the votes they won at the federal election. Clive Palmer's Palmer United Party made $2.202 million from its surprising strong vote on September 7 after Mr Palmer was believed to have poured millions into his campaign. Liberal Democratic Party senator-elect David Leyonhjelm scored his predicted $1.033 million, despite admitting some people mixed his name up on the ballot paper with the Liberal Party and opposing public funding of political parties. The Liberal Party made $23.103 million, the Nationals $3.076 million while the Australian Labor Party made $20.195 million. The Greens will receive $5.356 million. South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon will receive $636,127 after his strong polling in the state's senate race. Bob Katter's Australian Party will receive $166,711 and Family First $103,724. An AEC spokesman said all candidates who score at least 4 per cent of the vote qualified for the $2.48 payment per vote. The spokesman said parties nominated agents to control how the money was spent but there was no strings attached to how they spent the money. Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie will receive $60,802 while the new Independent MP for Indi Catherine McGowan will receive $68,381. Former cricketer Nathan Bracken's run in the NSW seat of Dobell netted him $17,439. Steve Lewis explains the rules that allow politicians to pay back questionable travel claims with no consequences.