SYDNEY — Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared "coal is good for humanity" at the opening of a mine in Queensland on Monday.

Standing at the site of the Caval Ridge coal mine, in central Queensland, Abbott said the mine would bring $30 million to the local economy.

"Let's have no demonization of coal," Abbott told the media. "Coal is good for humanity, coal is good for prosperity, coal is an essential part of our economic future, here in Australia, and right around the world."

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The mine, a joint venture by BHP and Mitsubishi, will employ 500 fly-in, fly-out workers and producing 5.5 million tons of coal annually.

"This is a sign of hope and confidence in the future of thecoal industry — it's a great industry, we've had a great partnership with Japan in the coal industry," Abbott said. Coal is essential for the prosperity of the world. Energy is what sustains our prosperity, and coal is the world's principal energy source and it will be for many decades to come."

Abbott's promotion of the local coal industry and praise of Japan could be seen as a direct dig at China, the second largest coal market, after the country announced it would impose harsh new tariffs on coal imports starting on Oct. 15.

The implementation of the 6% tariff on soft coal by China falls just a month before the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is expected to be signed at the G20 Summit in Brisbane in November, causing a