Aussie IT price inquiry submissions close today

Last chance for price hike entries.

Submissions for the Federal Government’s parliamentary inquiry into alleged price discrepancies between technology products sold in Australia and overseas will close today ahead of a formal investigation.

The inquiry was first announced in April and was formed to investigate whether price differences exist with hardware and software sold in Australia compared to the US, UK and Asia Pacific.

The investigation followed a lengthy campaign by federal Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has repeatedly accused IT vendors of ripping off Australian customers.

A particular focus of the parliamentary inquiry will be to test Husic's claims that Australian buyers pay up to 80 percent more for comparative technology products.

In May he said he hoped the investigation would give consumers the opportunity to get their questions answered, and offer vendors the opportunity to educate the public about the factors involved in setting local prices.

“I’ve been working with these issues for a year, trying to get answers which haven’t been forthcoming, and I hope the vendors themselves take the opportunity to engage fully in this enquiry and educate the public as well.”

The Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications, chaired by Nick Champion, is charged with looking into the issue.

Submissions close at the end of today.