Senator RONALDSON (Victoria) (14:12): Mr President, what a remarkable answer to the question. I therefore ask the minister— Senator Ludwig: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. You have pulled senators from the other side up for making commentary before going to the question. They are serial offenders and I ask that you rule out of order that part of the question which is commentary. The PRESIDENT: On 24 August this year I circulated a memo to all senators reminding them that it was not proper to preface a question with a statement. It is a ruling that has been given before in this place; it is not something that I initiated. I remind all senators that when they ask their supplementary question it should be a supplementary question without a preface. Senator RONALDSON: I think I am reading into the minister's answer— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ronaldson, you have been asked to ask the question. Senator RONALDSON: I am asking the minister a further question. I am reading into the minister's answer that he believes that the deal is binding. On that basis can I refer him to clause 16 of the deal, which provides: This Arrangement represents a record of the Participants' intentions and political commitments but is not legally binding on the Participants.