He was born in Tully in Queensland to Richard Franz Menzel and Dulcie Margaret, née Kelly on 30 March 1941.
Max was a Cane Grower before entering politics and was the Chairman of directors of Babinda Sugar Mill for 10 years.
[2] Following his defeat, Menzel left the National Party after the state executive of the National Party led by President at the time, Robert Sparkes overrode his endorsement despite his electorate council supporting him overwhelmingly with only 3 opposing him out of 40 delegates, in an event Max considered as retribution for supporting former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen with whom Mr. Sparkes had fallen out with.
He ran for Mulgrave as an independent in 1992 and was unsuccessful he went on farming on the family farm at Miriwini and in 1995 decided to sell and move to the Burdekin and expand his operation , his wife Margaret ran for the federal seat of Dawson in 2004 as part of a loose group of independents endorsed by Bob Katter.
[3] In August 2012 he was elected president of Katter's Australian Party following the dismissal of Rowell Walton.