A Queensland man has been arrested by Indonesian police for for allegedly possessing cocaine on the resort island of Bali.

Brendon Luke Johnsson, 43, from the Sunshine Coast was arrested with his Indonesian girlfriend Remi at a rented room last Saturday in the tourist hotspot of Kuta, Denpasar district police chief Hadi Purnomo on Thursday.

He said police found 11.6 grams of cocaine packed into 13 plastic bags worth about 40 million rupiah ($3600).

If found guilty, Johnsson could face up to 20 years in prison.

Mr Purnomo told reporters that the man had been living in Bali for four years and was a designer or architect.

Mr Johnsson’s step-father Ashley Robinson, who received an Order of Australia medal for charity work, told the ABC on Friday his step-son had made some poor decisions in his life and had been battling drugs since he was 16 years old.

“We love him dearly but he has made some poor decisions in his life and this one’s going to be obviously the biggest mistake he’s made if it’s proven to be correct,” he told the ABC.

“As parents … we absolutely hate drugs and what they do to families.”

“I don’t blame the Indonesians. Everyone knows what the law is over there regarding the drugs.”

“I’d actually like to thank them for looking after him at this stage — the police and the officials,” he said.

Mr Johnsson was paraded in front of the media in an orange jumpsuit and ski mask by Indonesian police announcing his arrest.

Mr Purnomo said “police found 13 packages of cocaine inside a purse, placed inside a cardboard box located on the floor” during the search.

Brendon Luke Johnsson faces a minimum of five years jail. Photo: Facebook

“He has been using drugs for five years,” he said.

“Due to high demand, Brandon wanted to expand his business by selling drugs.”

Possession of less than five grams of a category one narcotic in Indonesia, like cocaine, carries a minimum sentence of five years jail and a max of 20 years.

More than five grams carries a sentence from five years jail to the death penalty, Indonesia’s narcotic laws state.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the department was “providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Bali”.

-with AAP