* Out of 108 truly independent candidates for House of Representatives seats in 2016, 84 polled under four per cent, seven polled over 10 per cent and only four poll over 20 per cent. Two were elected.

* Andrew Wilkie in Denison polled 44.1 per cent and Cathy McGowan in Indi polled 34.8 per cent.

* The key to winning is to poll a primary vote in the high 20s, then get preferences from a major party.

* Only a dozen independents have been elected to the lower house since 1950.

* Cathy McGowan is retiring, so Indi in regional Victoria could be an independent loss.

* Rob Oakeshott is seeking to make a return, in the NSW seat of Cowper where Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker is retiring. Oakeshott polled 26.3 per cent in 2016.

* Julia Banks has exited the Liberal Party to stand in minister Greg Hunt's Victorian seat of Flinders as an independent.

* Kerryn Phelps will seek a second win in Wentworth, following her entry to parliament via a by-election to replace Malcolm Turnbull, but the Liberals are in the mix to get the seat back.

* Tony Abbott's seat of Warringah will be tough ask for independent Zali Steggall.

* Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie easily defeated Liberal blue-blood Georgina Downer in a by-election last year, and is expected to do that again.

Australian Associated Press