WA Premier Colin Barnett has revealed he told Tony Abbott to "calm down and take it easy", urging the former prime minister to stay out of the spotlight.

Mr Barnett made the comments in an interview with 7.30, when questioned about Mr Abbott's controversial remarks in which he called for a "religious revolution" inside Islam and said all cultures were not created equally.

Mr Abbott pushed for change within Islam and said the West should declare "clear superiority" over a culture that justified killing people in the name of God.

Those comments sparked widespread criticism, with some Muslim leaders describing them as "tantamount to hate speech".

Mr Barnett joined in the condemnation, saying he was "disappointed" by the comments, which he described as inflammatory.

"I think the last thing we do is poke a stick in the eye of ordinary, everyday Muslim people including many living in this country," Mr Barnett told 7.30.

"Australia is taking good measures, sensible and well thought-out."

Mr Barnett met Mr Abbott during the former prime minister's trip to Perth last month.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 6 minutes 39 seconds 6 m WA Premier fires the first salvo ahead of COAG meeting ( Leigh Sales )

Mr Barnett said he urged Mr Abbott not to seek the spotlight over the next few months.

"I am a good friend of Tony's; we had a chat recently and I urged him to calm down, get through summer and take it easy," Mr Barnett said.

"Obviously Tony Abbott is incredibly disappointed and hurt by being removed as prime minister in the way that he was."

Mr Barnett said Malcolm Turnbull, who took over from Mr Abbott as Prime Minister earlier this year, had brought a renewed sense of confidence and assurance to the country.