As Member for Manly, backing local business isn’t just a policy position for me; it’s personal. Small businesses are the heart of what makes our community special. They are the cafés, 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. Behind every one of them is a story of risk, sacrifice and relentless hard work.

Few places tell the story of small business transformation quite like Brookvale. Over the past decade, Brookie 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 who collectively turned it into a destination worth seeking out. 7th Day Brewery is part of that story.

I recently dropped into Brookvale to catch up with Joel Ridzuan, co-owner and General Manager of 7th Day, to get an honest read on what life actually looks like running a small business in the current climate.

What does a typical week look like for you?

“My working week is split in two: prep work early, then operational shift work on the back end. That’s life in small biz. Mondays are always frantic, debriefing the weekend, catching up with the team, paying all the bills, argh! I’m always about six weeks ahead booking bands and making posters. Work is always frantic here. We never finish all of our tasks and we’ve actually become okay with that!”

What have been the biggest challenges building 7th Day?

“Building our brand and our style has taken a long time, and now that we’ve established ourselves, we’re continually pushing the boundaries of what our brand is. Then there’s the big dogs, the corporate beer duopoly, the Japanese juggernauts, the pubs slinging $15 parmis and $6 happy hours piggybacking those pokies! 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.”

“The storytelling of a small, independent business on the Beaches is becoming better understood every day.”

And the wins or rewarding moments?

“Being small is also our strong arm. We use our socials to tell great stories, speak how we please and be as authentic as possible. We can be a bit controversial, make spelling mistakes, occasionally swear online; that’s human, right?! Our ability to have a big personality and throw wild, extravagant parties that no one else would dare dream of – hello Good Day Out – has become our superpower. We’ve whetted the appetite of an audience that want to be entertained, and we think we’re pretty good at doing just that!”

What are you seeing on the ground in Brookie right now?

“The 2026–27 financial year is going to be hard, there’s no doubt about it. If you’ve built up some reserves, you’ll hold firm, keep the good times rolling 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, pulling back on entertainment spend and using creatives to help, well, create. It’s hard to sugar-coat it, a tough year ahead if you don’t already have a strong local following. We are so thankful to be part of the beer, skate, surf, fashion and live music ecosystem here, and we are very excited for all the huge parties we’re going to throw this year!”

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 real concerns about proposed tax changes, including the removal of the Capital Gains Tax discount on assets. For many of these operators, selling a business isn’t a windfall, it’s their retirement plan, built on decades of hard work, personal risk 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. Our local businesses deserve better, and they deserve representatives who back them. 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. To stay across what I'm doing for local businesses and our community, visit jamesgriffinmp.com. •

James Griffin MP | Member for Manly | Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Shadow Minister for Digital, Artificial Intelligence and Investment, Shadow Minister for Customer Service
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Authorised by James Griffin funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. Words: James Griffin and Joel Ridzuan