REPORT TO PARLIAMENT MINISTERIAL TRADE MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 17 NOVEMBER – 23 NOVEMBER 2019 THE HONOURABLE GRACE GRACE MP MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Table of Contents Official Delegation ............................................................................................................................ 3 Visit Overview .................................................................................................................................. 3 Itinerary ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Sunday 17 November 2019 ............................................................................................................... 5 Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner for North America ................................................. 5 Chancellor of University of California San Francisco ............................................................................. 6 Monday 18 November 2019 .............................................................................................................. 7 Department of Industrial Relations, California ...................................................................................... 7 Tuesday 19 November 2019 .............................................................................................................. 9 H.D. Cooke Elementary School .............................................................................................................. 9 Theodore Roosevelt High School ......................................................................................................... 10 American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association .............................................. 11 Wednesday 20 November 2019 ...................................................................................................... 12 Carnegie Foundation ............................................................................................................................ 12 Thursday 21 November 2019 .......................................................................................................... 13 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Standards Harmonisation Meeting ................................................................................................................................................ 13 President and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions ............... 15 Trade Show Floor Meet and Greet ...................................................................................................... 16 2 Official Delegation The Honourable Grace MP Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations Mr Tony Cook PSM Director‐General Department of Education Ms Sharon Durham Chief of Staff Office of the Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations Visit Overview The main purpose of the Minister’s visit to the United States of America (USA) was to attend the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo and meet with key industry stakeholders in her role as Minister for Industrial Relations to discuss the harmonisation of international safety standards for amusement devices. The safety of Queensland theme parks is vital in ensuring confidence in the domestic and international tourism market, with 1.1 million international tourists and 12.5 million domestic tourists visiting the Gold Coast in the 12 month period to June 2019. Gold Coast theme parks are identified as one of the major reasons why domestic and international visitors chose to visit the region. Village Roadshow estimates their Queensland based theme parks attract approximately 5 million guests per annum with Ardent Leisure reporting approximately 1.5 million visitors to their theme parks in the 2019 financial year. While in the USA, the Minister also undertook a number of additional meetings. In San Francisco the Minister met with the Department of Industrial Relations, California (Cal/OSHA) who have recently released new standards to control employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica. Cal/OSHA were particularly interested in the Queensland approach to managing respirable crystalline silica, with the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland recommendations around new regulations to improve amusement device safety of particular interest. Cal/OSHA is also responsible for inspecting and issuing permits to operate temporary amusement rides and passenger tramways. In her role as Minister for Education, the Minister visited two Washington schools ‐ Theodore Roosevelt High School and H.D. Cooke Elementary and met with the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association to discuss the subjects of teacher quality, teacher supply and demand and national testing. While in Washington, the Minister also met with the President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. On 16 October 2019, the Foundation announced that the Queensland Department of Education would be one of only three recipients worldwide recognised in its annual Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement. While in Orlando the Minister attended the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo where she addressed the World Amusement Industry Safety Standard Harmonisation meeting to provide an update on developments in amusement device safety in Queensland. The Minister also met with a number key individual stakeholders including Walt Disney Corporate, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Universal Parks & Resorts, Jim Pattison Group, Premier Rides and Whitewater West Industries to discuss potential harmonisation of international safety standards for amusement devices. 3 Itinerary In local time Sunday 17 November 2019 — Brisbane, Los Angeles and San Francisco 11:10 – 06:00 QF0015 – Brisbane to Los Angeles 08:15 – 09:52 QF4655 – Los Angeles to San Francisco 09:52 – 11:45 Transfer to hotel 19:00 – 20:00 Briefing by Queensland’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for North America 20:00 – 22:00 Dinner with Chancellor of University of California San Francisco Monday 18 November 2019 — San Francisco and Washington DC 09:30 – 11:00 Meeting with Department of Industrial Relations, California 13:10 – 21:02 UA0727 – San Francisco to Washington DC 21:30 – 22:15 Transfer to hotel Tuesday 19 November 2019 — Washington 09:00 – 10:30 School visit to H.D. Cooke Elementary 11:00 – 12:30 School visit to Theodore Roosevelt High School 14:00 – 15:30 Meeting with American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association Wednesday 20 November 2019 — Washington and Orlando 09:00 – 10:30 Meeting with Carnegie Foundation 13:45 – 16:20 AA2215 – Washington to Orlando 17:00 – 17:15 Transfer to hotel 18:30 – 20:00 Reception with Australia Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association Thursday 21 November 2019 — Orlando 08:00 – 10:00 IAAPA Standards Harmonisation meeting 10:00 – 10:30 Meeting with Walt Disney Corporation and Universal Parks and Resorts 10:30 – 13:10 Trade Show floor meet and greet 13:10 – 13:40 Meeting Pattison Group and Premier Rides 17:00 – 19:40 AA0219 ‐ Orlando to Los Angeles 23:20 – 07:15 QF0016 – Los Angeles to Brisbane Saturday 23 November 2019 — Brisbane 07:15 Arrive in Brisbane 4 Sunday 17 November 2019 Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner for North America Date: 17 November 2019 Location: Taj Campton Hotel Attendees: Official Delegation Viki Forrest, Trade and Investment Queensland Commissioner for North America Meeting Summary: Discussions were held in relation to future trade and investment opportunities between Queensland and the United States of America, particularly focusing on biotechnology, renewables and biofuels and synthetic biology. Discussions explored how Queensland education could further support the development of these industries in Queensland, particularly the state’s strong focus on STEM education in schools. Issues of coding, robotics and drone education in Queensland state schools were discussed and their potential contribution to biotechnology industries, synthetic biology including synthetic meat production and the emerging industry of artificial intelligence in Queensland. The Queensland Government is providing $81.3m over 4 years for the Advancing STEM in Queensland state primary schools initiative which is provided directly to schools to develop teacher expertise and implement high impact strategies to improve student achievement. Discussions also explored the potential job creation opportunities for Queenslanders in the growing area of synthetic biology, particularly in regional Queensland. In 2018‐19, the United States of America was Queensland’s fifth largest goods trading partner (exports plus imports), valued at $7.6 billion. As at June 2019, there were 2,385 US student enrolments in Queensland education and training institutions, representing the State’s 11th largest source market and 28.8% of all US student enrolments in Australia. It was acknowledged that while the United States of America international student market in Queensland was not as strong as other countries, monitoring developments of international education in the USA was considered a valuable role of the Queensland Trade and Investment Queensland office in North America. 5 Chancellor of University of California San Francisco Date: 17 November