THE priority of welfare reform, including the simplification of benefits, effectively had been downgraded by Kay Patterson's move to family and community services, the Opposition and welfare groups said yesterday. The appointment of Senator Patterson is being viewed as a signal that the Government has abandoned plans to focus on welfare reform before or during the federal election. Opposition family and community services spokesman Wayne Swan said Senator Patterson, who moves from health to take the place of Amanda Vanstone who is shifting to immigration, was not up to the job. "It's an attempt to smother some of the issues out there. Senator Vanstone was exposing their real agenda and this person's agenda will be to camouflage it," Mr Swan said. The Government has promised major welfare reform since 1999, when it appointed Mission Australia chief executive Patrick McClure to review the system. Mr McClure recommended in July 2000 that social security benefits should be pulled into one payment and include an incentive to move off welfare and get a job. But the Government has yet to implement any of his recommendations. National Welfare Rights Network president Michael Raper said while he looked forward to working with Senator Patterson, he was concerned that the appointment might mean the Government was slowing down the schedule for its reforms. Source Patricia Karvelas: www.news.com.au ###