Young Indigenous advocates say they are concerned about “nasty” and “racist” elements that may emerge as the Indigenous voice to parliament campaign picks up speed.

Australia is set to head to a referendum later this year to vote for enshrining the Indigenous voice in the constitution, but early campaigning and confusion look set to muddy the waters.

Wiradjuri woman and co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue, Bridget Dama, said measures were being put in place to protect young Indigenous people’s mental health in the coming months.

“There will be nasty things that come out of this,” she said.

“This is only the beginning of the campaigning, it is a concern for all of us that and I think it should be a concern for all Australians that this campaign might get nasty and there might be a lot of racism and racist things said.”

In November, the Nationals announced they would be voting as a party against the voice, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for more detail on the proposal as the Liberal Party remains undecided on its stance.

Ms Dama said politicians have a responsibility to ensure the information in the campaigns is factual and centres on First Nations voices.

“This shouldn’t be and was never envisioned to be about politics, politicians and their tribalism,” Ms Dama said.

“This is about a new future for Australia.”

Mr Dutton refused to accept the voice would be an advisory body, saying a 2021 report by Indigenous academics Marcia Langton and Tom Calma that Mr Albanese had referred to went beyond the concept.

“It talks about how it may choose other matters to provide advice on if the High Court interprets it,” he told ABC 7.30 on Tuesday.

“I don’t accept this proposition that foreign affairs or defence or education policy or any other policy affects Indigenous Australians more or less than what it does Australians living across the country more generally.”

He said it was not unreasonable to ask for more detail.

The government insists the voice is an advisory body and will not have a program delivery function, or a veto power.

– AAP