Malcolm Turnbull offered $ 5 (£ 3) to a beggar on the streets of Melbourne.
Towards an important economic speech to give on Thursday, Mr Turnbull remained to shake hands with the man, and put the money in his cup.
But this act of minor generosity quickly became the main topic of conversation in social networks, where people are criticizing him from the different angles.
Some are saying Mr. Turnbull was so stingy. He is a rich man, but only five dollars were taken from his large wad of cash. But then he also has been criticized for the money at all. The Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle said, giving to beggars helped feed drug habits and entrench poverty, and suggested Mr Turnbull give to a charity instead. But he found some support, too. "We see a man who can give more. I see a man who gave" wrote one Twitter user.
Mr Turnbull, a wealthy former investment banker, has faced a series of debacles since he retained power in Australia's tightly fought July election. He responded to the beggar backlash on Friday.
"I felt sorry for the guy," he told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
"It was a human reaction and I'm sorry if that has disappointed some people."
He is not the first politician to pay a price for an what might ordinarily pass as a simple act of generosity.
