Preceded by John McVeigh Political party Liberal National Party Education BEcon/LLB(Hons) | Nationality Australian Spouse(s) Melinda Janetzki Profession Lawyer, Banker | |
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Full Name David Carl Janetzki Born 28 June 1978 (age 38)
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia ( 1978-06-28 ) Party Liberal National Party of Queensland | ||
David Carl Janetzki (born 28 June 1978) is an Australian politician. 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, replacing John McVeigh who resigned to contest the seat of Groom at the 2016 federal election.
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Early life
Janetzki was born in Toowoomba and raised on the family dairy farm between Brymaroo and Jondaryan, located on the Darling Downs. His German ancestors settled the Darling Downs in the late 1800's.
His father is a stalwart of the agriculture show movement and is currently the Darling Downs Sub-Chamber President.
Education
Janetzki attended small country schools including, Acland State School (alma mater of Alan Jones) and Jondaryan State School (alma mater of Toowoomba South predecessor John McVeigh).
He graduated from Concordia Lutheran College where he had been School Captain, Head Boarder Boy and First XI Cricket Captain.
He has an Economics and Law Degree (Honours) from the University of Queensland. He has also gained an A.Mus.A (Piano).
Career before Parliament
Janetzki worked at Brisbane law firm ClarkeKann, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and in London with the Manpower Group. He specialised in commercial law and litigation. Upon moving to Toowoomba in 2007, he joined Heritage Bank as General Counsel and Company Secretary.
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 banking and finance lawyers.
Before entering Parliament, he had been recently appointed by Heritage Bank's new CEO Peter Lock as Head of Banking Operations. This attracted national attention when Heritage Bank threatened to restrain the Australian Labor party from using its tag line, "People First" in the run up to the July 2016 Federal Election.
Political career
Janetzki was pre-selected by the Queensland Liberal National Party on 7 May 2016 to contest the Toowoomba South by-election following the resignation of John McVeigh who was seeking election to the Federal seat of Groom for the July 2016 Federal election.
Janetzki won 55.59% of the two candidate preferred count against former Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley at the by-election on 16 July 2016. This constituted a 3.3% two candidate swing against the LNP at the by-election when compared to the 2015 Queensland State election.
Personal
Janetzki is married and has two 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.
Community Interests
Janetzki regularly promotes social enterprise and prior to his election, he was a director of the Vanguard Laundry Services project in Toowoomba. The project and its founder, social entrepreneur Luke Terry, won the Capital Impact Award at the 2016 Australian Social Enterprise Awards. The laundry was officially opened January 2017 by the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, on a visit to Toowoomba and now employs up to 60 people suffering from mental illness.
Janetzki worked on many local, regional and state boards including the Empire Theatres Foundation (Deputy Chairman), the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Director) and the Southern Downs Regional Council Audit and Risk Management Committee (Chairman).
In 2014, Janetzki was appointed to the Board of Opera Queensland to represent regional communities in Queensland's major performing arts sector.