As Member for Manly, James Griffin says backing local business is personal. "Small businesses are the heart of what makes our community special. They are the cafes, breweries, florists, restaurants and family-run enterprises that drive our local economy, create local jobs and build the sense of connection that makes our corner of Sydney the best place to live, work and raise a family."

Few places tell the story of small business transformation quite like Brookvale. Over the past decade it has evolved from an industrial backstreet into one of Sydney's most exciting local precincts, home to independent breweries, creative industries, restaurants, gyms and makers. 7th Day Brewery is part of that story, and Griffin recently dropped in to catch up with co-owner and General Manager Joel Ridzuan.

Asked what a typical week looks like, Ridzuan does not sugar-coat it. "My working week is split in two: prep work early, then operational shift work on the back end. Mondays are always frantic, debriefing the weekend, catching up with the team, paying all the bills. I'm always about six weeks ahead booking bands and making posters. We never finish all of our tasks and we've actually become okay with that."

On the biggest challenges, he points to the giants. "There's the big dogs, the corporate beer duopoly, the Japanese juggernauts, the pubs slinging 15 dollar parmis and 6 dollar happy hours. The storytelling of a small, independent business on the Beaches is becoming better understood every day though. There are a lot of people out there choosing to support independent businesses, and that means everything to us."

Being small, he says, is also their strong arm. "We use our socials to tell great stories, speak how we please and be as authentic as possible. Our ability to have a big personality and throw wild parties that no one else would dare dream of, hello Good Day Out, has become our superpower."

He is candid about the year ahead. "The 2026 to 27 financial year is going to be hard. If you've built up some reserves, you'll hold firm and push through what may just be a break-even year. On the flipside, there are businesses in the beer and distilling game with very little financial capital looking into the future. That will inevitably lead to cost cutting and pulling back on entertainment spend. We are so thankful to be part of the beer, skate, surf, fashion and live music ecosystem here."

Joel's story reflects a reality shared by many owner-operators across the Manly electorate. Following the Federal Budget, a number of local business owners have raised concerns about proposed tax changes, including the removal of the Capital Gains Tax discount on assets. For many, selling a business is not a windfall, it is their retirement plan, built on decades of hard work and reinvestment into the community. "Policies that make it harder to build and grow a business risk discouraging the very entrepreneurship our area depends on," Griffin says. "When our small businesses succeed, our whole community is stronger for it."

Visit 7th Day Brewery in Brookvale or head to 7thdaybrewery.com.au to find out what's on.