Yes. They could simply start by not favoring the agricultural sector when it comes to all kinds of laws. Subject them to the same regulations every other business faces in regards to taxes, land use, pollution laws, labour laws etc.

R&D isn’t just a government thing, how do we encourage private companies to invest in research?

We don't have to. Presumably they will for profit motive. We can fund R&D at our universities and not give away the fruits of that labour to the private sector. The government can own all patents and copyrights generated by academic research and license them out to the private sector using market rates.

I honestly think a capital gains tax is absolutely crucial to this. Currently, the sharemarket is taxed, mainly in taxes on dividends and income taxes on overseas shares (FIF). You can buy a house, have it triple in value, and sell it without paying any tax.

That's one thing but we need to crack down on fraud in the private sector and not allow companies to simple declare bankruptcy and continue to trading under a different name. Also no bailouts when they fail.

How do we find the money to do all of these things, in a world where the established large players are going to fight tooth and nail to avoid change?

We can start by simply redistributing the money we get a better way. As I said stop favoring the ag sector and start favoring intellectual property. Stop giving away University generated innovation etc.

We also have a country of landlords, and even worse, a government who like to favour landlords by talking about the “mum and dad” landlords to pull heart strings, despite the majority of rentals being owned by people/companies that own many properties. As long as the media and government use the right words, it will be very difficult to get voters to support additional taxes even if only on rentals.

That problem may not be solvable. We are a nation of easily manipulated fools and it's getting worse as the brain drain accelarates.