it enabled landlords to buy existing stock instead of building...

it enabled landlords to buy existing stock instead of building new houses. it also enabled an increase in average rental rates while the existing stock of social housing gradually reduced. Howard's plan was to enable people who lived in social housing for many years to buy their homes. but of course it didn't work out this way as poor people are by definition: poor.

Howard's plan could have worked well for the economy had he taken into account the impoverishment to the community cohort. yet Howard also paid states to build more houses, as did Rudd/Gillard. it was down to Abbott to cut such "wasteful" expenditure and cause a dramatic shift in the housing economy.

its not "obsessing".... thats merely a diversionary excuse to ignore causation.