Australian boy in Bali drug arrest

A 14-year-old boy from New South Wales could face a lengthy jail term in Indonesia after allegedly being caught with drugs while on holiday in Bali. File photo

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says he's sure many Australians would share his feelings for the parents of a 14-year-old NSW boy who was allegedly caught with a small amount of marijuana in Bali.

The boy, from Morrisset Park near Newcastle, was arrested on Tuesday while holidaying with his parents and faces a lengthy jail term if convicted in the Indonesian tourist destination.

Consular officials are in close contact with Indonesian authorities and Mr Rudd has told the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to make the matter their top priority.

Mr Rudd says he feels for the parents of the boy, who's been named as Lewis Alan Mason.

"I think if you put yourself in the position of being a mum or a dad with a 14-year-old who's got themselves caught up in this situation, your heart would go out to the parents,'' he said on Thursday night.

"I'm sure many Australians feel the same and we'll do all within our power to suport them and get this young fella back home.''

Mr Rudd said the consul and the consul-general were having "rolling'' contact with the family.

A lawyer for the boy, Mohammad Rifan, said Lewis was "angry, crying'' and depressed.

He told AAP he could be charged under provisions for juveniles, in which case the maximum penalty would be six years.

Lewis was allegedly caught with 6.9 grams gross of marijuana, or 3.6 grams nett.

On holidays with his parents and staying in the luxury resort area of Legian, he was with a friend when he was arrested on Tuesday afternoon.

It's alleged he bought the marijuana for the equivalent of $A25 after being approached by a dealer while on his way to get a massage in Kuta earlier in the afternoon.

Police then detained him outside a supermarket after he left the place where he received the massage.

Under Indonesian law, there is no juvenile court system, so if he is charged the boy is likely to be placed in an adult prison.

He is the youngest Australian to be arrested in Indonesia.

- AAP