My Portfolio
Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.
MOBILISATION
Since the end of World War 2, the Australian industrial base has slowly declined and today is almost non-existent.
In 2026, it is obvious that we live in a dangerous and unpredictable World and that we are unprepared, both economically and militarily, for the immediate challenges of the future.
Australia is unprepared for peace, let alone war.
Today,
How did Australia reach this point in our history with a fragile economy and a military force only sufficient for token roles alongside our main ally, the United States?
The answer is distressingly simple. Since WW2, Australia has not faced an existential threat, and the notion that we could face extinction as a sovereign state has faded from the national consciousness.
Australia is in denial that it could happen to us, as it has to many nations throughout history.
Our current wealth and the long-term absence of existential threats like war or natural and economic disasters have been the catalyst for an age of populist activism that has eroded the conservative foundations of our society. This situation is now affecting our standard of living, has created massive state and federal debt, and threatens our economic future.
The economic realities of the past have been dismissed, and now economic policies are driven more by ideological beliefs than by solid facts.
One of the casualties has been the Australian industrial base, which has effectively vanished, along with the related jobs, training, economic resilience, complexity, sustainability, and prospects for the younger generations.
Australia has become increasingly reliant on the export of minerals and agricultural products. On one hand, this has made Australia a wealthy nation. On the other, we have become a nation of importers and service industries.
In a perfect world, this would be a Goldilocks state of affairs. Unfortunately, this economic boom and industrial decline have been driven by the insatiable appetite of our major trading partner, the People's Republic of China.
China in 2026 is our major export customer, our major source of imports and has morphed into our major military threat!
This has all the ingredients of a perfect storm. What could possibly go wrong?
Shipping
Oil
Power
World War 3
PRODUCTIVITY
MOBILISATION
Aircraft
Vehicles
Defence
This website reflects my military experience in the Australian Army and my industrial experience in manufacturing, Defence and construction projects throughout Australia and overseas.
The academic foundation for my views, are qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Management Science and Operations Research. I am retired and live in Melbourne.
The website contains a series of papers that address various aspects of the Australian economy, each of which is self-contained. They all follow the theme that Australia lacks depth, resilience and complexity in its economy and is dangerously exposed to external economic shocks and the economic, strategic and military consequences. Each paper focusses on a critical aspect of the Australian economy. It examines the current Australian situation and proposes a way ahead, that if adopted will add significantly to the Australian industrial base.
ABOUT
Rick Gray
Author
Other papers will be added to the website as I complete them. The ultimate aim is the resurrection of the Australian industrial base with particular focus on power generation, vehicle, aircraft and ship manufacturing, industry generally and Defence industries.
I am a passionate Australian who wishes to see that Australia remains on the right side of history.
Hoang Anh
Web Designer