THE drought is causing great personal hardship and rising family violence and child neglect, according to Victorian Coalition leader Ted Baillieu.
He issued his warning to Parliament last week after a two-day tour of drought-affected regional Victoria.
"There is a huge impact on families and communities," Mr Baillieu said.
"Stories of extraordinary personal hardship were reported to us, including rising and huge levels of domestic violence."
"Children are effectively being disconnected from what is in their own basic interests, where their educational needs are playing second fiddle to the family farm.
"The talk was of people frustrated, disempowered and not informed by government.
"There is a big dark cloud over the community and, unfortunately, it is not a rain cloud."
Victorian Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said Mr Baillieu's comments were a slur on farming families.
"These ill-informed comments are yet again proof of a Coalition leader who is out of touch with Victoria's farming families and farming communities," Ms Allan said.
"The leader of the Nationals Peter Ryan must denounce Mr Baillieu's slur on our farming families.
"As Regional and Rural Development Minister, I am constantly meeting and listening to farming families throughout the state.
"There's no doubt farmers are doing it tough because of the drought, which is why the Brumby Government is committed to supporting Victoria's farming communities with record funding of $400 million for drought support since 2006."
"This is in stark contrast to the Leader of the Coalition whose comments are like kicking a man when he's down and, as usual, shows the Coalition have no plans of their own, criticise everything and stand for nothing."
A spokesman for Mr Baillieu said the issue of domestic violence and the farm being put ahead of children's needs were based on comments from people he met during the tour.
