asked the Minister for Agriculture, in writing, on 29 October 2014:

In respect of the Reasons of Judgement of the Federal Court proceedings between Serana (WA) Pty Ltd and various departmental officers, where the judge said he inferred that the information on which the investigation was made was obtained from a competitor of the applicant, with his department denying in subsequent statements that this was the source, can his department clarify the source of information that led to this enquiry.

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

A formal investigation into the potential contravention of Australian quarantine law was initiated. It was initiated based on information arising from a biosecurity product tracing process after the department received information about potential biosecurity risks associated with imported bovine serum. I am advised that the department confirms that the source of the information to the department was not a competitor.