David Carl Janetzki (born 28 June 1978) is an Australian politician and since November 2024, the current
Treasurer of Queensland. He was elected to the
Queensland Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of
Toowoomba South for the
Liberal National Party at a
Toowoomba South state by-election in July 2016.
Early life and education
Janetzki was born in
Toowoomba and raised on the family dairy farm between
Brymaroo and
Jondaryn, located on the
Darling Downs.
His German ancestors settled in the Darling Downs in the late 1800s.
His father is a stalwart of the agriculture show movement and is currently the Darling Downs Sub-Chamber President.
Janetzki attended small country schools, including Acland State School and Jondaryan State School.
He later graduated from Concordia Lutheran College as School Captain, Head Boarder Boy and First XI Cricket Captain.
Janetzki studied economics and law degrees (honours) from the
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is a Public university, public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone ...
. He also holds an A.Mus.A (Piano).
Legal career
Janetzki worked at law firms ClarkeKann,
Corrs Chambers Westgarth and in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
with
ManpowerGroup. He specialised in commercial law and litigation.
Upon returning home to Toowoomba in 2007, he served as General Counsel and Company Secretary of
Heritage Bank.
He was a finalist in the 2010 Australian Young Inhouse Lawyer of the Year and was recognised in 2015 as one of Australia's leading inhouse banking and finance lawyers by Doyle's Guide.
In 2014, Janetzki was appointed to the Board of Opera Queensland.
Political career
Janetzki was first elected to the
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature, legislative body of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland. As provided under the Constitution of Queensland, the Parliament consists o ...
at the
2016 Toowoomba South state by-election following the resignation of
John McVeigh who went on to contest the
Division of Groom at the
2016 Australian federal election
The 2016 Australian federal election was a double dissolution election held on Saturday, 2 July 2016, to elect all 226 members of the 45th Parliament of Australia, 45th Parliament of Australia, after an extended eight-week official campaign p ...
.
He was appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Investment and Trade in November 2020 under then
Opposition leader David Crisafulli He previously held the positions of Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice from December 2017 to October 2020. In February 2022, he announced he would step down as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, effective in March 2022, but retain his other shadow portfolios due to "family challenges" in the past few years.
Janetzki became
Treasurer of Queensland following the Liberal National Party's victory at the
2024 Queensland state election.
Personal life
Janetzki is married and has three children.
His wife Melinda (van der Meulen) is a coloratura operatic soprano who has performed at the Sydney Opera House and for European opera companies.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Janetzki, David
1978 births
Living people
Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Liberal National Party of Queensland politicians
21st-century Australian politicians
Australian people of German descent
Deputy opposition leaders
Treasurers of Queensland