AEC refunds WA Senate candidates

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will pay $2000 to each of the 44 candidates endorsed by political parties in last year's West Australian Senate election to cover the cost of the nominations.

Fees for the remaining 18 endorsed candidates who stood at the 2013 federal election have already been refunded.

Payments are being made because the AEC caused the nominees to suffer detriment as a result of "defective administration", which resulted in the need to hold a new WA half-Senate election.

Candidates wishing to nominate for the 2014 Senate election have until noon on March 13.

Voters will head back to the polls on April 5.