Shocking pictures show the extent of Michael Hyndman's head injuries, but amazingly his attackers were allowed to walk free from court.
The 24-year-old was left in a coma during the assault on January 1 this year, as he celebrated new year with his fiancée, Clar.
The Belfast man was struck with a brutal single punch and smashed his head on the concrete, causing bleeding on the brain.
Surgeons had to remove part of his skull and he had to learn to walk and talk all over again.
Michael has slammed the Oz justice system after two people were charged with affray and walked away with 18-month suspended sentences.
He said: "I believe my injuries were not taken into consideration when prosecuting them for affray, it was a generic sentence no matter what injuries were sustained.
"It is disappointing, I just feel like if I was an Australian citizen they would take it more seriously, I am just a backpacker from another country."
Michael, a quantity surveyor, is now back home and told UTV Northern Ireland he has been left terrified of minor knocks to the head.
He added: "I needed to learn how to walk, speak – even the small chores like brushing your teeth or putting on your own socks and shoes – I had to relearn.
In a GoFundMe appeal, Michael said: "My future, which I thought I had mapped out before me, was hanging in the balance after just one punch left me fighting for my life.
He added: "I hope that I can prevent, even one person, from throwing that, life altering/ in some cases fatal, punch in the future.
"Life is too precious."
A goal of £3,000 was smashed with well-wishers donating more than £19,000.
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