給街友120塊　澳洲總理引火上身

澳洲總理滕博（Malcolm Turnbull）一個施捨街友舉動，引起國內政界與網友強烈回響。

英國廣播公司報導，滕博前天前往一場經濟論壇演講途中，忽然停下腳步給了路邊一個街友5元澳幣（約120元台幣），

這一個小小舉動引起無限討論，有些人批評他吝嗇，有人則批評他不努力增加就業機會，給街友錢只是作秀。

墨爾本政治人物則說滕博拿錢給街友只是讓他們買毒，然後害他們變得更窮，不如給慈善組織。

也有支持者捍衛總理說道「你們只看見他應該給更多錢，我看見的卻是願意施捨的人」。

滕博昨天受訪時回應這起風波，「我只是為他感到難過，這只是人性的反應，如果這樣讓某些人失望，那我很遺憾」。

（余浚安／綜合外電報導）

'It was a human reaction': Malcolm Turnbull defends giving money to a beggar

• Matthew Knott

Mr Turnbull was photographed on Wednesday putting a $5 note in the cup of a homeless man as he was arriving to give a major speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

Turnbull: 'I felt sorry for the guy'

 

 

Turnbull: 'I felt sorry for the guy'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turnbull: 'I felt sorry for the guy'

The Prime Minister defends giving money to a homeless man in Melbourne.

Mr Turnbull was asked by 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell why he gave the man money when people are advised not to do so. 

"I know people have got different views on that, but every time I see someone in that situation I always think, 'There for the grace of God go I'," Mr Turnbull said.

"It was a human reaction and I'm sorry if that has disappointed some people. Maybe they think you shouldn't give money to people who are sitting on the street.

"Neil, I felt sorry for the guy and I think that we should all remember, 'There but for the grace of God goes me'."

Mr Turnbull has previously slept outside in the Canberra winter to raise money for homeless services.

The image of Mr Turnbull, who was holding a wad of cash in his other hand, has been widely shared on social media.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gives a homeless man five dollars. Photo: AAP

Some social media users sharing the photo have criticised Mr Turnbull for being "stingy" while others have defended him and said those criticising him were being petty and mean-spirited. 

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has repeatedly asked Melburnians not to give money to beggars - and has suggested they give their money to buskers instead.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has advised against giving money to beggers. Photo: Jesse Marlow

"Melburnians are a generous lot, but please don't give money to beggars -

 give it to the service providers like The Salvation Army and Melbourne City Mission,"

he wrote in an opinion piece earlier this year.

"If you give money, food, clothing, blankets and other goods to the homeless,

you are entrenching homelessness and making it easier for them to stay on the street."

In a 2013 article he wrote: "My view? Never give beggars money.

"It's no crime to be down on your luck, or homeless, or mentally ill, or suffering from drug or alcohol abuse.

"But in our city, you can always get a good free meal and, usually, a bed if you need one.

"But begging money goes either to scammers or to buy drugs and alcohol.

"It doesn't feed, or clothe, or house."

The Salvation Army said last year that small groups of "professional beggars"

are unfairly fuelling public cynicism towards genuinely homeless people who beg to survive.

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