More than 110 Papua New Guineans protesting for Australian citizenship have been intercepted in Australian waters and will be detained before they are sent packing back to PNG, the immigration department says.
More than 120 people in 12 dinghies set off from Daru Island near the Torres Strait on a 150km journey to the Australian mainland on Wednesday morning.
The group, Papua Australia Plaintiff United Affiliates (PAPUA) want Australia to recognise that Papuans were not given a choice to remain Australians when PNG gained independence in 1975.
Papua covers the southern half of the PNG mainland and the group claim they are still Australian citizens because there has never been a referendum to legally sever ties with Australia.
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesman said a group of nine PNG nationals were intercepted late on Wednesday near Cape York where they were refused entry to Australia and detained.
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"A second group of up to 110 people was intercepted at Warrior Reef and is currently being escorted to Horn Island," the spokesman said.
A PAPUA spokesman on Wednesday said another 20 boats would make the journey in coming days.
The immigration department said the majority of the group remained in Daru after Australian and PNG authorities, including immigration officials, sought to dissuade them from making the journey.
"The Australian government's message to these people is clear, they have shown blatant disregard for our laws by trying to enter the country despite being told on numerous occasions the correct procedures to follow when applying for citizenship and we will be resolving this situation expeditiously," the immigration spokesman said.
"An application for citizenship by a person who does not have lawful authority to enter and remain in Australia poses no barrier to us returning them home."
Those detained will have their boats confiscated and the department will conduct a quick assessment ofany claims presented before they are returned home at the first available opportunity.
Immigration spokesman Sandi Logan labelled the action of the group, who have been protesting for citizenship for about a decade, a waste of time.
"Frankly, this is a waste of a lot of people's time - Customs on the water, Queensland Police on the water," Mr Logan told the ABC.
"Immigration officials have much better things to be doing than dealing with this sort of prank that this group is trying on."
