The US commentary is very relevant to Oz ie:+ operates on a fiat...

The US commentary is very relevant to Oz ie:

+ operates on a fiat currency; &
+ heavy debt on a consumer & government level.

The only way to cope is to inflate debt back to a manageable level. Have you not seen the Oz money supply figures? Gold in Oz prices will do very well thank you.

Gold is a monetary phenomena, and faces the same issues as oil in my opinion - ie. production is peaking.

Look at Newmont's change in strategy this week - they are after juniors with +1m oz reserves (and even considering unsafer parts of the world).

This does not excuse one from not doing their homework properly on Juniors (as you rightly point out with VRE). But the quality juniors will do very well.