The deliberate vagueness of the Voice referendum’s language has fuelled suspicions the government is attempting to sneak through consequential changes because the public cannot be trusted with the full truth. Absent clarity on form, functions, powers and deliverables compared to the existing cluster of institutions, MPs and senators, advocates and funding streams, the referendum is effectively reduced to the question: ‘Do you trust PM Albanese to amend the constitution – Yes or No?’

Judging by his casuistic waltz on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the duplicity in the question that misleadingly conflates recognition and representation, and the bad-faith tilt in...