"The govt can confiscate your property much easier than your gold. For a start, they know how much property you've got, and where it is. They don't even have to turn up to collect it - just issue you with a notice saying it is now theirs, and your weekly rent will be so much. All in the National Interest, Security etc. of course."
I have to disagree. The federal government cannot take your land without just compensation, that's in the Constitution, can't be bothered looking it up right now, but it is there for sure.
The only way to change it is by referendum. State constitutions contain similar provisions. Also the process for appropriation of land for public purposes takes a long time, valuations, etc. and there must be a public interest reason for the land appropriation, eg. building a rail line, a dam etc.
Just compensation might not be the case in other nations, but it certainly applies in Australia as long as the constitution and the judicial system remain in place.
