His high profile run as an independent candidate in Farrer against Liberal incumbent Sussan Ley attracted $155,035 from 55 donors as revealed in the disclosure returns with the Australian Electoral Commission released on Monday.

But his campaign expenses totalled $201,224 with the $46,189 shortfall to be offset by his election reimbursement for polling more than 20 per cent of the primary vote.

The size of his donations calls into question the level of support he actually did receive from disgruntled southern NSW irrigators who recruited Cr Mack to head up their "Pause the Plan" push.

In comparison, the successful campaign run by Team Orange to have Dr Helen Haines succeed Cathy McGowan in Victoria ran at a $100,000 profit with $321,114 spent on the campaign and $421,011 raised.

The biggest financial contribution to Dr Haines' campaign of $35,000 was made by Climate 200.

But in-kind support to the value of $39,250 made by husband Phil, who was campaign director, was also declared as was other in-kind support from son Nick ($15,620), Sara Hardie ($31,100), Amanda Aldous ($34,990) and Jamie Kronborg ($20,160) for services between January and June.

Mr Kronborg was later appointed to Dr Haines full-time staff.

The value placed on the services was calculated internally within Team Orange and needed to be recorded due to exceeding the disclosure threshold of $13,800.

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In comparison, Cr Mack made no declarations for those assisting his campaign.

Amounts spent by major party candidates in Indi and Farrer weren't revealed in a move which upset Dr Haines, who revealed details of her donors ahead of the wider release.

"To have true transparency in political donations all candidates should be held to the same level of scrutiny," she said.

"The amount of money spent by any of the major parties, Liberal, Nats, Labor, will never be known in terms of the spend in Indi.

"All the money is channelled through the state and federal bodies."

Cr Mack was contacted for comment.

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