“I found last night an incredibly humbling experience,” he said on Wednesday, as he reflected on the emotional moment, “the fact the song that the women were singing was about rising up to the occasion. Australians can rise to this occasion. We are a great country, the greatest country on Earth will be a little bit greater if we wake up on Sunday, having recognised [Indigenous] Australians.”

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That moment in the red earth was, perhaps, the moment the prime minister truly realised his own powerlessness to stop a successful No vote.

Many words will be written in the days and weeks ahead about why the Voice referendum succeeded or failed.

If the opinion polls are correct, then Saturday shapes not as the moment of national unity that Albanese, Pearson and other Voice supporters worked towards.

Instead, it will be one of division and disappointment for a great many people, not least the majority of Indigenous Australians who support the Voice and who have had the hand of friendship turned away.

Albanese may be powerless to stop a No vote. Australia may well miss out on a second apology moment, let alone a moment as unifying as the 1967 referendum.

But it is within the prime minister’s power to start bringing Australians back together on Saturday night, whether the referendum is won or lost, after more than a year of bitter division and debate.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.