AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE TORT (INTERFERENCE WITH GOODS) ACT OF 1977

These sets of tort above are generally referred to interference tort. This is because they seek to protect interest and possessory right  in property (chattel). These torts were traditional governed by common law principles which recognized a number of actions in tort for injury. The tort of conversion trespass to chattel and detinue has undergone significant change under the new act called “Tort (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, 1997 chapter 32.

This is an act to amend the law concerning conversion and other tort affecting goods. This is a product of law reform committee. The committee recommended that various torts relating to

intentional interference with goods should be replaced by a single tort of wrongful interference with chattels

Moreover, in section 2(1) of Tort (interference with Goods Act, 1977, the new Act abolished detinue and introduced the term  “Wrongful Interference with Goods” to include conversion of goods, trespass to goods, negligence or any other tort resulting in damages to good or to an interest in goods as regards to section 2 of the Act. In the Act, wrongful interference with goods means conversion of goods also called trover, trespass to goods, and negligence so far as it results in damage to goods or to an interest in goods. So detinue has been abolished and replaced with conversion of goods. Detinue is now obsolete under the new Act. 

REFERENCE

(1956) 14 W.A.C.A 70