Adobe cuts Aussie pricing ahead of parliamentary hearing

US-based Adobe has slashed the price of its cloud-based product offering in Australia after being forced to appear at the next IT pricing inquiry hearing.

First reported by The Australian Financial Review, the software company said it was bringing down its Creative Cloud membership pricing in Australia, which was previously priced at AU$62.99 per month on an annual subscription.

"Creative Cloud membership pricing in Australia for individuals has been reduced to AU$49.99 on an annual subscription per month for new and current customers, effective immediately," according to a statement from Adobe.

Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe were all summonsed to appear before the House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications to speak at the IT pricing inquiry. All three vendors have previously tried to dodge appearing before a public hearing on the matter of why Australians are charged more for IT goods compared with countries such as the US.

Adobe has long been criticised for charging exorbitant prices for its software products in Australia, with offerings sometimes slapped with a premium compared with the the US.

While it has brought down prices for the individual subscriptions for Creative Cloud, pricing for its new team subscription option remains unchanged at AU$87.49 per month.

Adobe, Microsoft, and Apple are due to appear before the IT pricing inquiry in March.