Howard was very calculating in what he did.
He made a big fuss in the media about a tiny handful of asylum seekers arriving by boat. All the while ramping up legal immigration avenues.
He knew this was good for his business owner lobbyist mates and good for increasing demand on real estate. Bad for anyone who works for a living and did not already own a house.
I reckon it would change when renters start to outnumber owners.
Which is part of the reason for first home buyers grants, stamp duty discounts etc, to funnel more people in to owning. The other being it is a great way to hand tax dollars to established real estate owners.