Australia’s response to COVID-19 exacerbated existing inequalities within the society, according to an independent review, which urges that “overreach” be avoided in dealing with future such crises.

Those bearing “the brunt” of the pandemic included low socioeconomic families, women, children, those in aged care, people with disabilities, temporary migrants and multicultural communities, the review said.

It said lockdowns and border closures should have been used less, schools kept open and older people better protected in an aged care system known to have pre-existing problems. Decision-making was not transparent enough.

Fault lines: An independent review into Australia’s response to COVID-19 was chaired by Peter Shergold, a former secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.