I'd say plenty have contemplated the exact scenario that you...

I'd say plenty have contemplated the exact scenario that you have mentioned. The thing is, you just never gave such a view any thought, let alone credence.

I love the way that the Australian govt has presented as a threat to all the gold mining scrip on the Aussie market because of their rent tax grab.

There ain't no thing as risk free investments. Anyone who thinks that gold mining scrip (read paper) has a lower risk profile than other forms of gold investing may not have thought about some possibilities.

Yes, HSBC may do whatever. But the Australian govt where such supposedly safe and transparent investment options such as scrip, can do whatever too.

There is risk in every investment, ETFs, paper scrip (as we have seen - but not noticed).

- pug