The decision to exempt the states from the long-awaited inquiry into Australia’s pandemic response has been slammed by business, health experts, economists and non-Labor politicians, who say the country will fail to learn the lessons needed for next time.

Despite arguing before the election there would need to be a royal commission or something similar, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler announced a three-member, 12-month, non-judicial inquiry with no coercive powers and which exempts decisions made by the states such as lockdowns.