Caution urged over extremist groups

The nation's race discrimination commissioner has warned of organised extremist groups taking protest action to the next level.

Tim Soutphommasane says Australians need to be vigilant about community cohesion in the wake of anti-Islam rallies around the country at the weekend.

Anti-racism groups staged counter rallies in some centres leading to some violent confrontations.

Mr Soutphommasane said groups such as Reclaim Australia should not be given too much oxygen and encouragement.

"What we need to avoid is for such groups to be emboldened and to take matters to the next level," he told ABC radio on Monday.

"That's something we don't want to see."

Mr Soutphommasane said it was a source of concern that organised extremist elements were seen to be operating in public.