What women are talking about today, Wednesday February 16.

New Zealand's parliament has today near-unanimously passed legislation that bans conversion therapy: the practice which intends to forcibly change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The legislation also lays out what is not conversion practice and protects the right to express opinion, belief, religious belief, or principle which is not intended to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation.

"This is a great day for New Zealand's rainbow communities," Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi said. "Conversion has no place in modern New Zealand."

'A historic day': Conversion practices now illegal after final hurdle in Parliament https://t.co/pcccgK8YZS

— Newshub Politics (@NewshubPolitics) February 15, 2022

Laws against conversion therapy have been gaining momentum around the world. Canada's parliament voted unanimously last year to ban LGBT conversion therapy. Several US states also prohibit the practice to some degree.

Sadly in Australia, conversion therapy is not completely outlawed. There are still only three states that ban the practice, with Victoria joining Queensland and the Australia Capital Territory in 2021.

Given the NZ government’s announcement, it is hoped more will be done to ensure conversion therapy can no longer harm anyone in Australia too. 

For more on the detrimental impact of conversion therapy you can read this article below:

'Gender conversion 'therapy' is a public health crisis. I know this because I lived it.'

It has been confirmed that actresses Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will host the 94th Academy Awards next month after there was a bit of a scramble behind the scenes about who would take on the iconic hosting gig, which many now believe to be a career curse.

Plus, the family of Halyna Hutchins, who tragically died in a shooting incident on the set of Rust in October 2021, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and other individuals involved in the movie’s production.

And Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney is the actress of the moment, but fans have now unearthed her surprising secret hobby and it’s got us thinking about all the other celebrities who have weird and wonderful side projects.

Hello! I am going to attempt to discuss Australian reality TV without bringing up MAFS. A tough ask at this time of year, but let's try...

Firstly, we need to talk about Farmer Wants A Wife. It has an *actually* impressive success rate, which in this reality TV landscape is genuinely surprising. If you fancy yourself in an akubra, the show is taking applications now. 

Bear in mind, however, you'll be up against Mamamia's own Emma Gillman, whose application is surely a shoo-in? See what I mean: 'I applied to be on the next season of Farmer Wants A Wife and things got... weird.'

For those more interested in the gossip than the potential teeth-whitening endorsements that could come from appearing on reality TV...

Last night, NITV aired an interview with last year's Bachie Brooke Blurton where she discussed the "bloody tough" aftermath of her The Bachelorette season and break-up with her winner, Darvid. And then, Darvid responded.

Here's a full rundown: "I was silenced." What we know about Brooke Blurton and Darvid Garayeli's breakup.

Morning pals! Have you ever wondered what it's really like to apply for a reality TV show? (asking for a friend)

Well, my colleague Emma Gillman just applied to be on the next season of Farmer Wants A Wife and things got... weird. 

She's recapped all the pervy questions you get asked, including your past relationship mistakes (aka dirty laundry to bring up on air), right here. 

But before you rush to fill out an application, let's get you across the five biggest news stories women are talking about this morning. 

1. Prince Andrew settles sexual abuse lawsuit ahead of trial.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre - the woman who accused the royal of sexual abuse - have reached an out-of-court settlement in the civil sex claim filed against him in the US.

In a letter submitted to the United States District Court on Tuesday, Giuffre's lawyer David Boies wrote jointly with Andrew's lawyers to say that the parties had "reached a settlement in principle".

Court documents show the Duke will make a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights".

Breaking News: Prince Andrew settled a sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers, according to a new court filing in Manhattan on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed. https://t.co/TYOu3UhnuX

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 15, 2022

Andrew has also pledged to "demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein" by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims".

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.

2. Man charged after allegedly killing his wife on Valentine's Day. 

A man has been charged with the domestic violence murder of 46-year-old Vanessa Godfrey at a southeast Queensland resort on Valentine's Day.

Sunshine Coast detectives allege Vanessa was killed by 50-year-old Bli Bli man Jeff Godfrey, (who is believed to be her husband), in their room at a resort in Pelican Waters on Monday.

Staff at the resort who decided to do a welfare check on the couple about 3.35pm found the woman's body "covered in blood" with wounds on her arms and the man in the room.

"It would be very traumatic for anyone attending... this is a tragedy that has occurred here on the Sunshine Coast," Detective Inspector Dave Drinnen said on Tuesday.

Police arrested the man at the scene. He has since been charged with domestic violence murder and refused bail.

Vanessa is the sixth woman to have died by violence in Australia this year.

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Read more: Her name was Vanessa Godfrey. She was allegedly killed by her husband on Valentine's Day.

3. Novak Djokovic willing to miss Wimbledon over COVID stance. 

Novak Djokovic will not defend his Wimbledon or French Open titles if the tournaments require mandatory vaccination for competitors.

"Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay," the world No.1 told the BBC when asked if he would sacrifice participating in the competitions.

The 34-year-old, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, said he would forego the tournaments "because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else.

"I'm trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can."

Novak Djokovic: I’m not anti-vax but will sacrifice trophies if told to get jab https://t.co/9X3tEMeA8c

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 15, 2022

Djokovic also distanced himself from the anti-vaccination movement, despite being deported from Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open last month amid concerns about his vaccine status.

"I have never said I'm part of that movement," he said, adding he was "keeping (his) mind open" to the possibility of getting vaccinated in the future.

4. Alec Baldwin sued over death of Rust filmmaker.

The family of a cinematographer shot on the set of the film Rust is suing Alec Baldwin and the movie's producers for wrongful death, their attorneys say.

Lawyers for the family of Halyna Hutchins announced the lawsuit filed in New Mexico in the name of Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son, Andros, at a Los Angeles news conference on Tuesday.

The "reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures" of Baldwin and the film's producers "led to the death of Halyna Hutchins," attorney Brian Panish said.

BREAKING: Family of Halyna Hutchins files wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin over deadly 'Rust' shooting https://t.co/7bFVx45p2L via @thisisinsider

— Natalie Musumeci (@natmusumeci) February 15, 2022

Baldwin was pointing a gun at Hutchins during the set-up for the filming of a scene for the western in New Mexico on October 21 when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

The attorneys said Baldwin had turned down training for the kind of gun draw he was doing when he shot Hutchins.

5. Jarryd Hayne has been granted bail.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been freed with his convictions quashed, nine months after he was jailed on a rape charge.

Hayne grinned and hugged a friend as he left Cooma Correctional Centre on Tuesday, his 34th birthday.

Hayne appeared in the court via audio-visual link on Tuesday morning in prison greens, as the judge imposed conditions on his release.

He must pay a $20,000 bail surety within seven days, must surrender his passport, and must report to police three times a week, in bail conditions agreed upon by his lawyer and the prosecutors.

He also must not contact or intimidate the alleged victim or any witnesses, and cannot enter the Newcastle local government area.

Jarryd Hayne has walked free from prison on his birthday, and may not face a jury again until 2023.

STORY: https://t.co/6eFB3bSQDn pic.twitter.com/cR9QYkfuNV

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) February 15, 2022

The matter will return to court on Friday, to fix a date for the third trial, which is expected to go for two to three weeks.

And you're all up to speed. 

We'll pop back in here to bring you more of the biggest news stories throughout the day. 

- With AAP. 

Is there a good way to break up with someone? Should we be looking to celebrity breakups as inspiration for our own relationship breakdowns?

More recently, we’ve seen Kim Kardashian & Kanye West split, followed by numerous social media posts from Kanye dragging Kim.

But what’s the right way to split? And what damage can a breakup cause?

In this episode we look at why amicable breakups are important.

READ:

• What women are talking about on Tuesday. 
• What women are talking about on Monday.

Feature Image: Getty/Mamamia.