'Crazy' political correctness: PM on opera

Political correctness gone crazy - that's the prime minister's take on West Australian Opera's decision not to produce a show because it features smoking.

The WA Opera will not program Carmen because it's set in a cigarette factory, and the company has just secured a $400,000 sponsorship from Healthway, the state's anti-smoking foundation.

The decision has sparked accusations of censorship.

Tony Abbott weighed into the row on Thursday, saying most operas featured tragic and exaggerated situations.

"It's political correctness gone crazy," he said.

"If we were running around looking to take offence, or spread some politically correct message just about every opera would be forbidden."

Carmen is an 1875 opera by French composer Georges Bizet.