Throughout Australia, legislation exists that enables a person
to recover the cost of storage, claims for insurance,
transportation, labour and other expenses in relation to goods in
their possession where the person who deposits the goods fails to
pay for the storage charges or cannot be located.
This power is provided by the establishment of a 'statutory
lien' over the stored goods. Each State and Territory has
enacted its own legislation establishing such liens, which includes
the Storage Liens Act 1935 (NSW), Warehouseman's
Liens Act 1958 (Vic), Warehouse Liens and Storage Act
1990 (SA), Storage Liens Act 1973 (QLD),
Warehousemen's Liens Act 1969 (NT), Disposal of
Uncollected Goods Act 1968 (TAS), Warehousemen's Liens
Act 1952 (WA) and Mercantile Law Act 1962 (ACT)
(Storage Liens Legislation).
