Dutton’s voice stance doesn’t protect Indigenous people. The no campaign is already scaring them

‘Now that the Coalition has declared its hand, we will see exactly how fair and respectful of Indigenous ‘grassroots’ people the campaigners will be.’ Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

One of the most significant things said this week about the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament didn’t come from Canberra.

It came from the handful of strong Gomeroi yinarr (women) who spoke up about a “divisive” meeting on their country in Tamworth, where they heard things that scared them deeply.