Federal Opposition Indigenous health spokesman Andrew Laming has been accused of posting inflammatory remarks on social media about racial tensions south of Brisbane.

Dozens of police are monitoring a street in Woodridge in Logan after weekend clashes between Indigenous and Pacific islander groups.

The situation deteriorated last night and the riot squad was called in to control the crowd.

Mr Laming tweeted: "Mobs tearing up Logan tonight. Did any of them do a day's work today, or was it business as usual and welfare on tap?"

He repeated the comment on Twitter four hours after the original post.

Federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson condemned Mr Laming's remark, describing it as "disgraceful and inflammatory".

"Why would you seek political gain out of what is a very tense situation?" he told Sky News.

"People of goodwill through Logan city are trying to calm the situation and you have Mr Laming - a parliamentary secretary for Indigenous health - seeking to inflame it."

Finance Minister Penny Wong was also critical of Mr Laming's language.

"I think when you have these sorts of problems, social and community problems - and I want to say obviously violence is always unacceptable - it is incumbent upon Members of Parliament to behave responsibility and to act in ways that don't inflame the situation," she told ABC News 24.

Twelve hours after posting the original comment, Mr Laming this morning sought to "clarify" his statement.

"To clarify: Working together to resolve these riots the priority. Training and a chance for jobs are key," he wrote.

Mr Laming has not responded to the ABC's request for an interview.

His comments have sparked anger from local resident Paul Butterworth, who has described the views as insulting.

"He may as well come over here. We'll all lay down on the ground. He may as well kick us in the guts and tell us we're a lost cause," Mr Butterworth said.

Andrew Laming has been accused of "inflaming a tense situation for political gain". ( AAP: Lukas Coch, file photo )

Liberal frontbencher Greg Hunt says his advice is for everyone to be cautious until the full facts of what happened are clear, adding there needed to be adequate police and community resources put into dealing with the situation.

Asked whether he thought Mr Laming should apologise or be reprimanded, Mr Hunt said: "Look, I will phrase it this way: we all need to be extremely cautious as to how we approach these issues."

Acting Opposition Leader Warren Truss says the Coalition wants to see the issues in Logan resolved, adding that it was appropriate for Mr Laming to "clarify" his comment.

"Well, he has got to take responsibility for his own actions. He's done that by correcting the tweet," Mr Truss told reporters in northern New South Wales.

When asked how Mr Laming had corrected it, Mr Truss said: "Well, he's issued a clarifying tweet".

Mr Truss says the emphasis needs to be on creating employment opportunities in the region so people can work together, pointing to the Coalition's commitment to create one million new jobs nationally.

Former ALP election candidate in Victoria Francis Ventura has launched an online petition calling for Mr Laming to apologise for the comment.

Mr Laming responded on Twitter, describing it as a "petty-ition".

The biography on his personal website says he is "Australia's most innovative user of social media in politics".

Tensions simmering

Police met with community leaders today as they try to calm residents after violent clashes on Saturday and Sunday in which a house and cars were damaged.

Local leaders say tensions have been simmering since the death of Richard Saunders, the uncle of NRL star Jonathan Thurston.

He died after being bashed with a hammer in a brawl at Ewing Park at Woodridge in 2008.

Premier Campbell Newman says the State Government will consider relocating some residents to defuse racial tensions.

Logan Mayor Pam Parker, meanwhile, says she is going to organise a summit to tackle the underlying issues.

"I've been in contact with different [government] ministers today and I want to coordinate that down in Logan," Cr Parker said.

"We can have the Minister for Police, the Department of Housing, Communities, Multiculturalism and Employment coming together to look at existing issues and long term issues that may need to be addressed."

Mr Butterworth says the heavy police presence has helped.

"It causes a bit of calm for the people here - at least the people up in the house can rest a bit easier," he said.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says the situation in Woodridge is not just a police problem.

"Other people need to take responsibility and by that I mean the elders of both communities," Mr Stewart said.

"I know the church gets very involved down there because they have very large followings of cultural groups.

"I ask them to take as much action as necessary to get a peaceful resolution to the current tensions."

Police and community leaders are meeting today to discuss ways to quell the tensions. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

Superintendent Noel Powers from Logan Police says officers will encourage both sides to talk today.

"Try and get some rational talking and decision making going on and then see if we can bring them together and mediate out a successful conclusion," Supt Power said.

"Today's aim is just to put a lid on it and let this area, let this community get back to their normal life."

Local resident Abraham Sailor says he wants the violence to end after his family's home was damaged in the clashes.

"I'm just praying to God that this war is over because I don't want to see anyone get hurt," Mr Sailor said.

"We are a humble people, we are not terrorists our Aboriginal people - but we have been terrorised."

Aboriginal spokesman Tiga Bayles says he is hopeful a resolution can be reached.

"I think it's achievable - it's not going to happen tomorrow but the discussion has started," Mr Bayles said.