Janetzki was born in Toowoomba and raised on the family dairy farm between Brymaroo and Jondaryn, located on the Darling Downs.[2] His German ancestors settled in the Darling Downs in the late 1800s.[3]
His father is a stalwart of the agriculture show movement and is currently the Darling Downs Sub-Chamber President.[4]
Janetzki attended small country schools, including Acland State School and Jondaryan State School.[2] He later graduated from Concordia Lutheran College as School Captain, Head Boarder Boy and First XI Cricket Captain.[2]
Janetzki studied economics and law degrees (honours) from the University of Queensland. He also holds an A.Mus.A (Piano).[5]
Legal career
Janetzki worked at law firms ClarkeKann, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and in London with ManpowerGroup. He specialised in commercial law and litigation.[6] Upon returning home to Toowoomba in 2007, he served as General Counsel and Company Secretary of Heritage Bank.[6]
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.[7][8]
In 2014, Janetzki was appointed to the Board of Opera Queensland.[9]
He was appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Investment and Trade in November 2020 under then Opposition leaderDavid Crisafulli[10] He previously held the positions of Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice from December 2017 to October 2020.[11] 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.[12]
Janetzki is married and has three children.[5] His wife Melinda (van der Meulen) is a coloratura operatic soprano who has performed at the Sydney Opera House and for European opera companies.[13]
