It took pressure from all sides of Parliament, but it is great news that Labour has finally been brought to heel on its proposed shake-up of matrimonial property law, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today.

"Since we leaked Labour's plans for this far-reaching supplementary order paper (SOP), I have been saying its changes to property law for married people, de factos and same-sex couples are so big that they must be considered by a select committee.

"Arrogantly Margaret Wilson thought she could get away with legislation through the back door.

"But after pressure from all other parties in Parliament, she has learnt that down here away from the ivory towers, you actually have to let people have a say."

Mrs Shipley this month wrote to many Government MPs pointing out how far-reaching the legislation was and urging them to demand that it go before a select committee.

National's justice spokesperson Tony Ryall has also been talking to other parties including Act, United, New Zealand First and the Greens, calling for multi-party support for the legislation to go to a select committee.

"It's a victory for decent government that Labour has been reined in and told to go through the proper, democratic processes," Mrs Shipley said.

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