Independent candidates with the biggest financial war chests failed to get elected at the May election as Climate 200 and individual donors poured a record $27 million into community independent campaigns.

Former radio presenter Alex Dyson, an independent challenger for the seat of Wannon, received the most donations of any independent at the last election. He raised $2.2 million but was unsuccessful in wresting the Victorian seat from Liberal MP Dan Tehan.

He was followed by Caz Heise, a Climate 200-backed candidate who raised $2.1 million in her unsuccessful tilt against the Nationals for the NSW seat of Cowper.

Monique Ryan raised the third-highest amount last financial year, raking in $1.9 million to hold onto the blue ribbon seat of Kooyong in a tight contest. Zoe Daniel raised $1.

See Full Page