DISABLED Australians are being forced to pay thousands of dollars more than their overseas counterparts for essential equipment such as wheelchairs and walking aids because overseas websites, which sell the same products for a fraction of the price, are being prevented from shipping them to Australia.

Disability advocacy groups have joined frustrated Australian families in calling for an inquiry into why local sellers of disability equipment are charging up to five times more for some equipment and whether they are breaching competition laws by trying to prevent websites from shipping here.

They claim millions of dollars in government funding is wasted on overpriced equipment while disabled Australians wait up to a year or more for essential equipment due to funding shortages.

''If we were paying less for our equipment then we could afford more of it and the government subsidies would be able to reach more people,'' the executive director of Women with Disabilities Victoria, Keran Howe, said. ''I would like to see an inquiry into the large price discrepancies.''

Calls for an inquiry were echoed by the Youth Disability Advocacy Service manager, George Taleporos, who advocates for young people with disabilities and is awaiting funding approval for a new wheelchair.