Senator HENDERSON (Victoria) (14:42): I again refer to the Treasurer's statement that she'll be making sure that spending is about building value and not buying votes, and I'm quite confused by the last response because it sounds like the minister is contradicting herself. One minute it's assessing, and the next minute it's— Senator Wong interjecting— Senator HENDERSON: I'm sorry, Minister, I haven't finished my question. Senator Wong: A point of order— Senator HENDERSON: There's no point of order. I haven't finished my question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, resume your seat! Senator Henderson, please sit down. Minister? Senator Wong: That is not a question. The standing orders don't contemplate a speech instead of questions. Senator Birmingham: On the point of order, earlier this week, President, you provided some advice to the chamber in relation to supplementary questions, having been asked to do so by Senator Wong and those opposite. In that advice you did encourage those making supplementary questions to ensure their supplementary question drew a link to the answer that was provided previously, which is precisely what Senator Henderson was just doing. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I'm going to rule on the point of order, unless there's a different point that you wish to make. Senator Wong: Point of order: I'm not sure that the confused state of the senator's mind, as she described it—her state of confusion—is something that is necessarily an important part of a question. Senator Henderson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, please resume your seat—unless it's an entirely different point of order, which I will come to after I've ruled on your first point of order. I haven't yet ruled on your first point of order, so please resume your seat. Senator Henderson: On the point of order— The PRESIDENT: I said I would come to that after I've ruled on this point of order. I draw senators' attention to rules for questions 106 which simply say—and this has been reinforced by a number of presidents—that questions should not be prefaced by a statement. Senator Henderson, you have a second point of order? Senator Henderson: In relation to Senator Wong's derogatory statement about my state of mind— The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, there was no point of order there. Senator Henderson: Can I make the point of order, Madam President? The PRESIDENT: No. I've ruled on it; there is no point of order. Please resume your seat. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: May I also remind senators that points of order are not opportunities for group discussions; that was Senator Parry. Senator Henderson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Please resume your seat. Senator Henderson, I am not entertaining a point of order. Senator Henderson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, may I draw your attention to the fact that I am the President of the Senate, not you, and that, when I ask you to resume your seat, that is what I expect to happen. I don't expect you to continue to try and debate an issue. Minister Wong? Senator Wong: I thought I was referencing Senator Henderson describing herself as being confused by the minister's answer, but, if it was offensive to her, I'm very happy to withdraw. Senator Henderson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: No. Senator Henderson, please resume your seat. Senator Henderson, I've just drawn to your attention that it's not a debating point. The question is live. Please resume your seat. Minister. Senator Gallagher: She was only halfway through the question. The PRESIDENT: My apologies, Senator Henderson. There's been so much disruption that I was confused. I thought the minister was answering. Senator HENDERSON: Could I just get some clarification. Could I start the question again and start the clock at the top? The PRESIDENT: Yes. Senator HENDERSON: I again refer to the Treasurer's statement that you'll be making sure that spending is about building value, not buying votes. In light of this, will the government be honouring its pre-election promise to spend $11,000 on painting a mural at the Kingsway markets, announced in the now Labor electorate of Pearce just seven days before the election? Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Birmingham, Senator Wong! Order! Senator Henderson has asked a question to which the minister rose, and she's entitled to give her response in silence.