WA premier urges Abbott to 'calm down'

West Australia Premier Colin Barnett says he has advised Tony Abbott to calm down following the former Prime Minister's much-publicised comments about Islam.

Mr Abbott has called for a reformation of the religion, saying it needs to "modernise from the kill-or-be-killed milieu of the Prophet Mohammed".

"I'm a good friend of Tony's, we had a chat recently and I just urged him to calm down, get through the summer, take it easy," the WA Liberal leader told ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday.

Mr Barnett said Mr Abbott's remarks were inflammatory and he was disappointed he made them.

The last thing we should do is "poke a stick in the eye of ordinary, everyday Muslim people", including many who lived in Australia, he said.

"Obviously Tony Abbott's incredibly disappointed and hurt by being removed as prime minister the way he was," he added.

Mr Barnett said there was no doubt Malcolm Turnbull, who deposed Mr Abbott in September, had brought a renewed sense of confidence and assurance in his state.

Consumer confidence and general business confidence were both on the rise.

"It's probably only the resources sector that is really suffering at the moment."