APPLE, Adobe and Microsoft have been summonsed to appear before the Government's inquiry into the price of consumer electronics.

Until now the tech giants have refused to publicly front the IT pricing inquiry but today the federal government subpoenaed the companies, forcing them to explain why Australians have to pay so much more for goods than their US and UK customers.



The companies will appear before the House Committee on March 22 at 9.30am to explain themselves and answer questions raised by consumer watchdog Choice and ACMA.



Ed Husic, the Labor MP driving the inquiry told News.com.au that the subpoenas were an important move "but one we shouldn't have to take".



"These firms should have cooperated and been prepared to be more open and transparent about their pricing approaches," he said.



"In what's probably the first time anywhere in the world, these IT firms are now being summoned by the Australian Parliament to explain why they price their products so much higher in Australia compared to the US.



"Adobe, Apple and Microsoft are just a few firms that have continually defied the public's call for answers and refused to appear before the IT Pricing Inquiry."



While television and computer prices fell 14 per cent according the to the latest Consumer Price Index Figures Mr Husic said there was still a long way to go.



"Some estimates suggesting that Australian prices are up to 60 per cent higher than the US," he said.



"Given the widespread use of IT across businesses and the community, the prices paid for hardware and software can have a major commercial and economic impact.



"Getting downward movement on IT prices and easing the bite of price discrimination should be an important micro-economic priority – so I'm looking forward to hearing from these firms about their pricing approaches."



Choice welcomed the summons and said in a statement that it had proof that Australians were paying up to 50 per cent more than US consumers for "identical music, software, games and hardware".



"Australians are waking up to the fact that we are being ripped off," said Choice CEO, Alan Kirkland.



"We believe it’s time that these companies realise this and start pricing fairly in the Australian market."



"We found that with one Microsoft software development product, you could fly to Los Angeles return to buy the software and still save thousands of dollars."



"With price differences this stark, the same old excuses just won’t cut it anymore."



The move to force tech companies to publicly explain themselves comes just days after Ed Husic said that Apple "hid behind a cloak of invisibility" in testimony before Parliament on Wednesday.



He also questioned why if Apple Australia made $6 billion in revenue last year, it only paid $40 million in tax.



"It would be great to learn more about what they do, but Apple steadfastly refuses to engage with stakeholders," he said.



"Ask anyone who has sought answers from them about their Australian operations and you will hear a common theme: they will not talk."

Read more about Husic's testimony here.



A spokesperson for Adobe told News.com.au that it had received a summons from the Committee.

"Adobe will cooperate with the Committee as we have done since the Inquiry began," the spokesperson said.



Apple declined to comment.



Microsoft has been sought for comment.