9news.com.au does not suggest that the allegations are in fact true, rather that they have been made.

On Wednesday evening, Maehashi took home the award for illustrated book of the year for the second time at the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), surpassing five finalists, including Bellamy, with her book RecipeTin Eats: Tonight.

Bellamy did not attend the awards and is reported to be overseas on business.

In response to the plagiarism allegations last week, Bellamy commented, “Like many bakers, I find inspiration in the classics; however, the creations you see at Brooki Bakehouse are a reflection of my own experiences, tastes, and passion for baking, cultivated through countless hours spent in my childhood kitchen with my Mom,” she elaborated.

“While baking has leeway for creativity, much of it is a precise science and is necessarily formulaic.

“Many recipes are bound to share common steps and measures: if they don’t, they simply don’t work.”