Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will "re-racialise our nation" in a speech the Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney describes as "disinformation" and scare-mongering.
Debate on a bill to set up a referendum on whether an Indigenous Voice to parliament should be enshrined in the constitution began in parliament on Monday.
Mr Dutton said the federal government's proposed Voice to Parliament will "re-racialise our nation".
"At a time when we need to unite the country, this prime minister's proposal will permanently divide us by race," he said.
"Changing our constitution to enshrine a Voice will take our country backwards, not forwards.
"It will have an Orwellian effect where all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others."
Ms Burney countered Mr Dutton's comments, saying the Voice would be advisory only, and it would have no power of veto and no program-delivery function.
"We have just heard in one speech, every bit of disinformation and misinformation and scare campaigns that exist in this debate," she said.
"Constitutional recognition through a Voice to the Parliament is about giving Indigenous Australians a say in matters that affect us. It means delivering structural change."
Mr Dutton said there had not been enough detail about the Voice and that the prime minister expected Australians to vote "on a vibe".
"If the government wants you to vote on a Voice not knowing what it is or what it can do, the approach is a reckless roll of the dice," he said.
Ms Burney said the process to establish the Voice had not been rushed, having been developed over many years with the support and consultation of Indigenous people.
"I believe that constitutional amendment before the parliament takes the right form. It's symbolic and practical," she said.
On Sunday, the federal government launched a new information program to provide Australians with factual information about the referendum proposal.
It pointed people to Voice.gov.au to learn more before voting day, which is expected to be between October and December.
