An event insider said Geldof's fee, which was paid by sponsors including the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, included money for luxury hotel rooms and first-class flights, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported Friday.

"It was an inspiring speech. But when you think he got paid $100,000 (U.S. $65,000) to talk about poverty, it seems like a bit of a contradiction," the insider said. "That's $100,000 that could have made a difference to poverty right there. Everyone in the audience would have walked away in awe. If only they knew the full story."

The insider said another anti-poverty activist, the Rev. Tim Costello, spoke at the event for no compensation.