Sydney, Feb 11 : Tech firms Apple, Adobe and Microsoft have been summonsed to appear before the Australian government's inquiry into the price of consumer electronics.

Until now the tech giants have refused to publicly front the IT pricing inquiry, but now the Australian authorities subpoenaed the companies, forcing them to explain why people in the country have to pay so much more for goods than their US and UK customers.

Ed Husic, the Labor MP driving the inquiry said that these firms should have cooperated and been prepared to be more open and transparent about their pricing approaches, News. com. au reports.

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

"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.

According to the report, 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 six billion dollars in revenue last year, it only paid 40 million dollars in tax. (ANI)