“I will permanently leave Australia.” Prominent Australian lawyer, Nyadol Nyuon announced that she will renounce her Australian citizenship as well as return the Order of Australia (OAM) medal she once received and will leave this country. I tried to do a project protecting women and multicultural communities worth up to 800 thousand dollars but I never thought that I would be discriminated against, followed, and treated disrespectfully, “victimised”. After that statement, she also made a short message but that very message is what makes people argue more than ever!

In a bombshell announcement that has shaken Australia’s multicultural community and ignited fierce national debate, prominent human rights lawyer and former refugee Nyadol Nyuon has declared she will permanently leave Australia, renounce her Australian citizenship, and return her Order of Australia (OAM) medal.

Speaking emotionally in an exclusive interview, the South Sudanese-Australian lawyer revealed the painful reasons behind her decision. Nyuon was appointed to lead a $800,000 Victorian government-funded project aimed at protecting women from multicultural backgrounds in Australian workplaces. What should have been a meaningful initiative instead became, according to her, a deeply traumatic experience filled with racial discrimination, surveillance, and disrespect.

“I tried to do a project protecting women and multicultural communities worth up to 800 thousand dollars,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion, “but I never thought that I would be discriminated against, followed, and treated disrespectfully — victimised.”

After her powerful statement, Nyuon delivered one short, devastating message that has since divided the nation:

“Australia, I loved you enough to fight for you. But you never loved me back.”

Those twelve words have sparked an intense national conversation about racism, belonging, and the lived experience of people of colour in Australia.

Nyadol Nyuon arrived in Australia as a refugee from South Sudan at the age of four. She rose from humble beginnings to become one of the country’s most respected voices on human rights, justice, and multiculturalism. A lawyer, television presenter, and passionate advocate, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her outstanding service to the community.

Her decision to renounce citizenship and return the OAM is unprecedented for someone of her profile. It represents not just personal pain, but a symbolic rejection of a country she once believed in.

In her interview, Nyuon described feeling constantly undermined while working on the government project. She claimed she was subjected to microaggressions, excessive monitoring of her work, and subtle but persistent racial bias from colleagues and senior officials. When she raised concerns, she says she was dismissed or labelled as “overly sensitive.”

“I gave my all to this country,” she said. “I believed in the fair go. But when you are constantly reminded that you are ‘the other’, no matter how hard you work, it breaks something inside you.”

The response has been swift and deeply divided.

Many in the African-Australian and broader multicultural communities have expressed sorrow and understanding. Community leaders say Nyuon’s experience reflects a wider, often unspoken reality faced by visible minorities in professional environments.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described the news as “deeply concerning” and promised a review of the project, while federal Multicultural Affairs Minister urged calm and dialogue. However, several conservative commentators have criticised Nyuon, accusing her of being ungrateful and using her platform to damage Australia’s international reputation.

On social media, the hashtag #NyadolLeaves has trended, with thousands of Australians sharing personal stories of racism, while others posted messages telling her to “go back to where you came from.”

Nyadol Nyuon’s departure comes at a sensitive time for Australia. The country has been grappling with questions of national identity, immigration, and social cohesion. Her case has highlighted the gap between Australia’s public image as a successful multicultural society and the private experiences of many non-white Australians.

Human rights organisations have called for an independent inquiry into workplace racism, particularly in government-funded projects. Meanwhile, some politicians have used the controversy to push for stronger integration policies and stricter citizenship requirements.

Despite the backlash, Nyuon remains unapologetic. In her final message before the interview ended, she said quietly:

“I am not leaving out of anger. I am leaving because I am tired of hoping for change that never comes.”

Her story has resonated far beyond legal and activist circles. For many young Australians from migrant backgrounds, Nyuon represented proof that hard work and talent could overcome barriers. Her decision to walk away has left some feeling disillusioned.

As she prepares to depart, Nyuon says she has no fixed destination yet but plans to continue her human rights work overseas. She will formally begin the process of renouncing citizenship in the coming weeks.

Australia is losing one of its brightest and most passionate advocates for justice. Whether her departure becomes a wake-up call for genuine change or is dismissed as an isolated case remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: Nyadol Nyuon’s twelve-word message — “Australia, I loved you enough to fight for you. But you never loved me back” — will echo in the national conversation for a long time to come.