Yeah the guys talking out his arse on immigration being so the government can have some tax. That podcaster sounds like some neoliberal low/no tax wanker.

The second part you mention about going into recession without a reasonable level of immigration is absolutely the driving reason. No government wants to be in power when a recession occurs, whether they've been a cause in it or not.

Edit: agree with your/their conclusion its hard to know whether its going to be a controlled burn or a bushfire. Regardless no one should've looked at the price inflation in housing these last few years as sustainable or bankable to lock into their budgeting and planning. Things have to change in this country, the inequality and rising precarity in people's lives is really starting to bite. We also need to spend less money and time on so many frivolous follys that don't have a real investment return (financial or physical) and speculation as investment.