The key architect of Australia's unsuccessful republic referendum fears similar tactics used by opponents could doom an Indigenous voice.
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Greg Barns, campaign director for the 1999 vote, sees key similarities between that referendum and the push for the new advisory body.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been criticised for continually calling on the government to provide more detail about the voice.
Mr Barns said it was a tactic the "No" campaign used to defeat the push for a republic.
"In 1999, the calls for detail and the calls to answer what-if scenarios, were really designed purely by the 'No' case to either confuse or to make people fearful of the change," he told AAP on Friday.
"You can't cover off every scenario that may or may not happen with constitutional change ... they say if you can't do that then you should vote no."
Mr Barns said it was very easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of answering every query but warned things only became murkier if that approach was followed.
He identified other similarities between the two votes, with some Indigenous leaders already indicating they will oppose the voice.
"We lost because we had key people who were republicans who voted with the no case," he said.
"You can see something like that emerging here ... that will be capitalised upon by the no case."
Mr Dutton, who sent an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this month with 15 questions surrounding the voice, said he spoke for "millions of Australians" in wanting more detail.
"What I have done is ask for detail of the voice and I don't know how that's an attack," he said.
"I'm speaking for millions of Australians when we say if we're being asked to change the most important document in our country ... my job is to question him and hold him to account."
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland was quizzed on why the government wouldn't consider sending a pamphlet to Australian households outlining the yes and no cases for proposed constitutional change.
She said the government was confident Australians would inform themselves.
"We are well aware this is a serious issue that Australians will be participating in this referendum and want to have the best possible information," Ms Rowland said.
Australian Associated Press
