A 37-year-old woman has been charged over her alleged involvement in the riot in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern on Sunday night.

Police say the Hurstville woman has been charged with a number of offences including rioting, affray and violent disorder.

She was refused bail and will appear in court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham has criticised the parents of young children involved in the riot.

Mr Latham says he was very surprised at the age of some of those involved in the violent clash between the Aboriginal community and police.

The Labor leader told Sky News it shows how important it is for parents to know at all times where their children are.

"I was shocked to see the footage out of Redfern, where you've had what looked like six and seven-year-old boys jumping on police cars, smashing windows," Mr Latham said.

"Where were their parents? Surely parents need to know where their kids are and ensure they're not on the streets doing that sort of thing."

Mr Latham says parents should know where their children are at night and has urged Prime Minister John Howard to back a Labor program aimed at the parents of problem children.

But Mr Howard has attacked Mr Latham's ideas on parental responsibility, saying average mums and dads resent being lectured by politicians.

In other developments:

Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham has criticised the parents of young children involved in Sydney's Redfern riot on the weekend.

The Aboriginal community of Redfern in Sydney has held a memorial service for 17-year-old Thomas Hickey this afternoon.