APPLE co-founder Steve Wozniak said it is horrible that Australians are paying more for technology goods compared to the US.

In an interview with ABC radio this morning, Steve Wozniak hit out the price disparity between the Australia and the US.

"The large duties in Australia I'm sure I would not favour. Maybe people are very happy and feel very well off because of the protections but I just think it's horrible.



"I'm not really political. I would probably wind up being a libertarian thinking we shouldn't have boundaries between countries, you know?"



Mr Wozniak, who is on a speaking tour of Australia, was shocked to find out his car cost three times more in Australia than in the US. He added that you could "ship anything anywhere in the world for almost nothing nowadays".



His comments will put the heat on tech companies like Apple ahead of the federal government inquiry into why Australians pay more music, TV and downloads than people overseas.



Last month Minister for Communications, Stephen Conroy signed off on the parliamentary inquiry that will also consider pricing of software and other IT-related material in the hope of bringing down costs.



Labor MP Ed Husic has also been an outspoken advocate on price discrimination and said Australians are paying up to 80 per cent more for products without good reason.

Tech price comparisons

News.com.au found Adobe Photoshop CS5 costs $2285 in the US, compared to the $4000 Aussies are forking out for the same software.



The Bose Wave music system and iPod connect kit cost $379 in the US compared to $799 in Australia.



The Xbox 360 250GB console costs $247 in the US, while Australians have to pay $410.



The pricing of the new iPad starts at $539 in Australia, compared to $496 in the US.



Last year State Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said Apple’s iTunes prices were "gouging" Aussies.



Analysis said Australians paid 62 per cent more for Dolly Parton's Better Day album than those in the US and about 60 per cent more for Dolly's single than US users. Australians also paid $3 more for the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and $4.79 more for the movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.

