WELCOME to 2016, where offering money to street beggars evidently warrants taking offence.

A photograph of Malcolm Turnbull offering money to a homeless person has gone viral for the wrong reasons.

In the picture, the Prime Minister can be seen putting a $5 note into a homeless person’s cup.

The interaction was snapped by an AAP photographer as the Prime Minister was arriving to speak at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia luncheon in central Melbourne yesterday.

Later that evening, it was posted to Facebook by Guardian columnist Van Badham, where it went viral.

She captioned the photo: “Check Malcolm’s right hand, then check his left hand — and you’ll know why this photo doesn’t even need a caption.”

As you can see, while he gives a five dollar note to the man, he’s holding a stack of $5, $20 and $50 notes in his other hand.

Daily Mail Australia took a similar tone to Badham, with its headline for the story reading: “Bit measly isn’t it, Malcolm? PM gives homeless beggar $5 — despite clutching a wad of notes in his other hand.”

The interaction has sparked heated discussion on social media as to whether the Prime Minister deserved praise or condemnation over it.

Some, like Badham, implied it was a low move to make such a comparatively small offering, given he had a stack of bills in his other hand.

Others accused him of using the homeless man for a photo opportunity.

The photo has been retweeted hundreds of times on Twitter, spawning a number of memes.

But a number of users have also come to Mr Turnbull’s defence.

Many have pointed out that he at least gave the man something, saying the negative posts were taking a cheap shot at the leader.

@Brentus88 ridiculous. It's his money. So because he's considered wealthy he's obligated to give $50 dollar bills to every homeless person? — Dustin Coffman (@dustinandrew) August 17, 2016

@Wayne_Oddy @vanbadham why not celebrate the fact he gave something rather than what he didn't give — Jonathan (@fith122) August 17, 2016

@vanbadham You see a man who can give more. I see a man who gave. — Theo (@TheoKyrillidis) August 17, 2016

@vanbadham Disingenuous. How about celebrate the fact he's giving. Most people would just walk past. — Lani Refiti (@LaniRefiti) August 17, 2016

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