a good opportunity for Queensland to promote itself, particularly the desirable climate and expanses of fertile land. Tourism was promoted under the banner of "the Winter Paradise of the Southern Hemisphere". A souvenir guide from the show boasted that Queensland cultivated the richest of fruits including pineapples, bananas, mangoes, grapes and citrus fruit. Australia's largest airline, Qantas was founded as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services in Winton in 1920. Silver, copper and lead were being mined from Mount Isa by 1925. Wool became an important export for Queensland during the early 20th century, contributing to half of the state's total exports by 1930. The 1950s saw a resurgence of whaling in Australia. A new whaling station was set up at Tangalooma on Moreton Island to process slaughtered whales. In 1963 the world's richest deposit of bauxite was discovered at Weipa. Dairying, once an important local industry in the state, declined towards the end of the 20th century. The Queensland economy last contracted during the 1990-91 financial year at a rate of -0.7%. 21st century In 2004, a citrus canker outbreak forced farmers to destroy every citrus tree in the Emerald region. This amounted to half a million commercial trees being destroyed during an eradication program that lasted five years. The banana industry was devastated in 2006 from the flooding and crop destruction left in the wake of Cyclone Larry. 90% of the country's banana crop was destroyed. The price of bananas doubled to A$6 a kilogram as a result. In the 2006-07 financial year, the nominal value of the Queensland economy surpassed A$200 billion for the first time. In early 2009, Queensland's credit rating was downgraded by rating agency Standard & Poor's to AA+ after the state's budget deficit increased to more than A$1.5 billion. See also South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program References External links Queensland Economy Watch Office of Economic and Statistical Research Provides monthly and quarterly economic data relating to Queensland