NSW senator-elect David Leyonhjelm, who admits he benefited from voters mistaking him for a Liberal Party candidate on the ballot paper, will receive more than $1 million from taxpayers as a result of his hefty primary vote.

His Liberal Democratic Party will pocket the money, despite planning to oppose public funding for political parties. ''We might be new but we're not stupid,'' he told Fairfax Media.

Strong showing: Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm. Credit:James Alcock

''We would like to change the system for everyone but we're not giving the money back. The Greens and the major parties get tens of millions of dollars and up until now we have been funded completely by members. Every dollar is important to us.''