In the week before the Voice referendum, the esteemed commentator for the Australian newspaper Paul Kelly argued if the ‘No’ vote prevailed it would be wrong to see the result as a significant turning point in the battle of ideas.

Kelly writes:

‘If the ‘No’ vote prevails Dutton must beware an emotional resurgence of populist conservatism and far-right elements driven by the false notion the ‘No’ vote constitutes a cultural and ideological turning point.’

I beg to differ.

Putting aside the emotive and misleading phrase ‘beware an emotional resurgence of populist conservatism and far-right elements’, Kelly’s argument that the referendum’s defeat cannot be seen...