Papua New Guineans seeking the return of their Australian citizenship say the destruction of their boats by immigration authorities will not stop them sailing to Australia again.
Residents of the former Australian territory of Papua claim they were wrongfully stripped of their Australian citizenship during PNG independence in 1975.
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Last year, a dozen boats arrived in Australian waters to highlight their cause.
Immigration condemned the action as a dangerous stunt and has warned them not to try again, but that has not been enough.
"We were born Australian citizens, that's a fact that cannot be denied," says spokesman Jonathon Baure.
Sandi Logan, from the Immigration Department, says a High Court ruling in 2005 put an end to the Papuans' claim.
The department hopes destroying the vessels will scare off any attempts to sail into Australian waters, but the boat owners are demanding compensation for their damaged property.
