In some ways it was cynically smart for Albanese to start with the Voice out of the gate. If it succeeds he’s got a hell of a notch on his belt, but if it fails it is in many ways more valuable for him.

Firstly, the flank of the party energised by the landslide election get a big reality check. Albanese knows the path to progress in Australia requires patience, pragmatism and no sudden movements that could spook the public. You don’t need to ban coal mines when you know most of the ones you approve won’t survive long enough to export any coal.

Secondly, it exposes Dutton and the LNP’s strategy, the media’s alignment and how social media disinformation disseminates, long before the election. This gives Albanese a map of the political minefield he’s walking and where he needs to focus his rhetoric and policy to minimise the attack surface susceptible to Dutton’s very limited repertoire.

Finally, governments that lose referendums tend to win elections. Dutton hasn’t just exposed himself to Albanese, but to the Australian public. The people Dutton is telling to “if you don’t know, vote no” will forget the referendum by the next election - but the inner city electorates that went Teal at the last election, the ones Dutton has to win back to even get a sniff of government, they will never forget.

The smart political play for Dutton would have been to support the voice, instead he’s shown Albanese his hand and likely doomed himself.